Batticoloa
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.
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