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KIA expansion undecided

by Rajmi Manatunga

No final decision has been made on the proposal to expand the Katunayake International Airport (KIA), the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said.

The government is considering available options to construct a second international airport CAA Chairman Shibly Aziz told the Daily News. "No finality has been reached as yet on the proposal. The most serious problem facing the authorities is providing resettlement for people who lose land due on expansion process," he said.

Commenting on the proposal to build another international airport in the country, Aziz said that what Sri Lanka needs is an alternative airport with international standards to be used at a time of emergency. "We do not require two international airports. But there is a need for an alternative emergency runway with reasonable infrastructure facilities and the capacity to accommodate an aircraft carrying around 300 passengers," he said adding that such an airport will benefit the respective area.

Weerawila and Hingurakgoda are considered suitable for the second international airport. "It will also help domestic aviation and be a hub and interchange of local operations which we hope to expand in near future," he said.

At present three domestic airlines including Lion Air, Expo Lanka and Serendib, operate mainly to Jaffna. The CAA has sought cabinet approval to commence airlines to new destinations like Weerawila, Koggala, Hingurakgoda and Trincomalee.

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