H’tota airport operational from 2012

* Second international airport in Lanka

* Work begins on 2,000 hectare land

* Boon for southern development

Dharma SRI ABEYRATNE

The second International Airport at Mattala, Hambantota will be commissioned by mid 2012, Airport and Aviation Services Chairman Prasanna J Wickramasooriya said.

After completing the first phase of the airport construction project, the first flight will land in Mattala airport by mid 2012 fulfilling a long felt need of having a second international airport in the country.

The airport construction project is in full swing on a 2,000 hectare bare land at a cost of US $ 209 million. The project was launched by President Mahinda Rajapaksa on November 27, 2009 in line with the Greater Hambantota City Development Program.

Construction work is carried out to meet international standards established in the airport and aviation industry such as ICAO specifications for Code 4F. The construction project consists of two phases. The runway, which is being constructed under first phase is 3,500 metres in length and 75 metres in width. It is large enough to operate any jumbo size aircraft like a A380 air-bus, the largest aircraft ever built, Ports and Aviation Ministry Secretary K.V.P. Ranjith de Silva said.

A bare land affected by the scarcity of water has been selected as the airport construction site.

Under first phase. 800 hectares of land has been acquired while under the second phase another 1,200 hectares of land will be further acquired, he said.

Under the first phase, basic aerodynamic facilities, runway, air traffic controlling tower, apron, taxiway passenger and cargo terminals, access roads, accommodation for officials, fuel storages, sewerage treatment plant, water supply facilities, meteorological building, fire fighting facilities, buildings for catering facilities and car park will be constructed, de Silva said.

All construction work is done to symbolize the country’s dignity and heritage. The controlling tower will be significant as it symbolizes a lotus flower.

Under the second phase which will cover 1,200 hectares of land, construction of airport and aviation related facilities will be established.

Under this, servicing and a repairing centre for aircraft, hotel and recreational facilities, a pilot training centre, maintenance hub, a private jet parking hub, technical training centres, a full length parallel taxiway and many more facilities will be completed, de Silva said.

After construction of the airport, it is expected to hold one million passenger transactions annually through the airport.

Expected air cargo transaction rate per annum is 45,000 metric tons, while the expected aircraft movement rate will be 30,000 per annum.

The airport will provide around 2,000 direct employment and a considerable number of indirect employment opportunities.

Ports and Aviation Deputy Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardena said, the new airport will be a boon to the local aviation industry while being a catalyst for the economic development of the Southern province generating international trade, tourism, vocational training and employment.

The airport will be geared to support international and domestic travel, air-sea cargo transshipment in conjunction with the Hambantota port.

Moreover the airport will be an alternative to the Bandaranaike International Airport the only international airport in the country, Deputy Minister Abeygunawardena said.

Ports and Aviation Deputy Minister Dayasritha Tissera said, “The Bandaranaike International Airport commenced operations four decades ago.

“The country is facing numerous difficulties as there isn’t another international airport. In that sense the construction of the second international airport is a historic and significant event,” he said.

Finally the airport and Hambantota harbour will be the air-sea cargo hub which will cater to any amount of cargo handling and passenger transactions, Tissera added.