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Airport expansion 1500 families to be re-settled close by

by Rajmi Manatunga

The government has decided to provide resettlement for residents who lose their lands due to the expansion of the Bandaranaike International Airport in the Katunayake area.

Chairman, Airport and Aviation services Company Hemasiri Fernando told Daily News, that an 80 acre land of the Estate Development Board situated five kilometres North of the airport and an adjoining private land of 50 acres have been allocated to resettle some 1500 families.

"There was a rumour that these people were to be resettled in remote areas and the agitation that followed was a result of that misconception.

"But we have decided to provide them land within the Katunayake area without breaking their social contacts and livelihood", Fernando said.

Plans are under way to allocate land for the displaced from the Katana electorate as well," he said. All the relief measures promised by Speaker Joseph Micheal Perera when the residents met him will be provided in due course.

The proposal for the expansion of the Airport has now been sent to the Surveyor General by the Director General of the Civil Aviation for inspection.

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