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Second phase development of Colombo International
Airport:
AASL receives US $ 350 m credit from JICA
Airport and Aviation Services Ltd, (AASL) has secured credit
facilities to the tune of US $ 350 million from Japan International
Corporation Agency (JICA). This is the first time that a government
institution had received direct credit from an overseas organisation.
Chairman AASL, Prasanna Wickramasuriya said that these funds would be
utilized for the second phase development of the Colombo International
Airport. Sri Lankan tourism is fast developing and the arrival numbers
are increasing. In addition airlines want to increase frequencies while
new carriers too want to fly to Colombo. This is the reason that the
Colombo airport needs more capacity,” he said.
Currently the Colombo airport could accommodate six million
passengers and the aim is to double this. Wickramasuriya said that the
present eight aero bridges too would be increased to 12 under the second
airport development project. Air cargo handling services will also be
increased in parallel to the increase of passenger handling capacity.
A new parking area would be built linking it to the proposed Colombo
Katunayake highway. Aircraft apron and taxiway too would see a major
development while utilities water supply, electricity and waste water
disposal system too would be upgraded to meet the increased demand.The
Colombo International Airport’s domestic terminal will be opened soon to
cater to the growing domestic air traffic market in Sri Lanka. The old
SriLankan Airlines cargo terminal is being used for this.
“AASL would be investing a sum of Rs 250 million for this domestic
terminal,” he said. Wickramasuriya said that with tourism picking up and
high spenders patronizing Sri Lanka and investment and development
taking place in the regions, the demand for domestic travel had
increased. A sea plane landing facility in Seeduwa Dadugam Oya near the
country's international airport in Katunayake too is being built jointly
by the Tourism Authority of the Ministry of Economic Development and the
Provincial Road Development Authority.
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