Ministry of Transport

Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation says that International Trade Aviation Services are to be commenced at the Rathmalana Airport.

Preliminary discussions on the commencement of services concerned was held on 07.03.2017 at the Rathmalana Airport Premises between Mr. Nimal Siripala De Silva - Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation and Mr. Musa Sammer – Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation Of Maldives.

Ms. Sahiya Sareer – Maldives Ambassador in Sri Lanka, Mr. Abdul Haris – Managing Director of Maldives International Airlines,  Mr. Ahamed Abraham - Chief of Aircraft Operations of Maldives International Airlines , Mr. Saman Ediriweera – Chairman of Airport and Aviation (Sri Lanka) Limited and Mr. Yohan Jayaratne – Executive Director of  Airport and Aviation (Sri Lanka) Limited also took part in the discussions.

Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva said that producing technically and practically knowledgeable high quality drivers with the help of trained and licensed instructors is his expectation. The Minister expressed these views at the Annual Meeting of Sri Lanka  Driving School Owner’s Association held at the BMICH on 08.03.2017.

This occasion was graced by a large number of people including the Deputy Minister – Mr Ashok Abesinghe and Commissioner of Motor Traffic –  Mr. Jagath Chandrasiri.

Bandaranayake International Airport (BIA) that was closed for about three months for overlaying of runway during day time was declared opened for operations by Hon. Nimal Siripala De Silva -  Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation on 06.04.2017.

This project was conducted by Kethik Company of China under the consultancy of  National Aero Technology International Company of Netherland at a cost Rs. 7.2 billion.

This occasion was graced by a large number of dignitaries including Hon. Ashok Abesinghe – Deputy Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, Officers of such Ministry, Ministers and Diplomats.

The Inaugural session of International Civil Aviation Organization Air Services Negotiation conference – 2017 was held on 04^th December 2017 at BMICH in Colombo. The conference was declared open by Hon. Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva and Deputy Minister Hon. Ashok Abeysinghe also participated.

Mr. Ananda Wimalasiri, Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority handed over the special edition of ‘GUWANSARA’ magazine to the Minister at the session.

The Secretary, Mr.G.S.Withanage and Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority also attended.

Batticaloa Airport is opened for Civil Aviation services....

Batticaloa internal airport, opened under the Civil Aviation Department on 17th November 1958, was utilized for military and air force operations for 25 years approximately due the cruel war prevailed in the country for several years in the country. However, this airport was redeveloped and opened by the president Maithreepala Sirisena on 16th July 2016.

Subsequent to transferring the Batticaloa internal airport to the Civil Aviation Authority by the current government with the intension of promoting the internal aviation services within the country and widening the domestic and foreign tourism in in the Eastern province, air craft operations and services were commenced on Sunday the 25th March by the Airport and Aviation Services Ltd. Accordingly, the air craft carrying the group of officials including Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation Nimal Siripala De Silva, Deputy Minister Mr. Ashok Abeysinghe and Secretary of the Ministry Mr. G.S. Vithanage and officers and other passengers was reached to the Batticaloa airport 0n 25.03.2018 at 10.30 am commencing the first civil aviation service.

Thereafter, the passenger terminal was opened by the ministers, and the license to permit air craft operations was handed over to Mr. Saman Ediriweera, chairman of the Airport and Aviation Services Ltd by the Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority Mr. H.M.C. Nimalasiri.

Government has spent a sum of Rs. 1400 million to modernize and redevelop this airport. Accordingly, the run way which is 1066m long and 46m width was redeveloped and a new electricity system was established in the runway by adopting a bitumen layer. In addition, the passenger terminal has been modernized with all facilities.

Batticaloa airport is located at 1.7 km distance from from Batticaloa city in Seththukuda area ,and it is located at 206 km distance from Katunayake and 222 km distance from Rathmalana airport. All the roles of this airport are being done by the Airport and Aviation Services Ltd ,and some of the private aviation services have expressed their wish to operate passenger aviation services between Rathmalana and Batticaloa by now. The government can achieve benefits through this.
Similarly, Ministry has planned to commence aviation training school in this airport premises.