Colombo has not much traffic as DXB. 'FACT'

You always miss the point. When an airport has two or more runways they can easily close one and do the repair works on it while the other one is still operating. That's not possible in a single-runway airport.

No mate , what my point was if DXB can manage with just 1 runaway such a huge traffic then we should be able to handle it too even the Airport is closed for few hours.

apart from this who is going transport 1000 of tourists from Mattala to other Areas? can Mattala handle 10 ACs at a time?

From my understanding, CMB-runway is going to be closed for resurfsacing for 8 hours perday for 3 months in 2017.

It appears to be other airports with a single runway had managed to do the resurfacing in the past. E.g. LGW

So I think CMB definately can do it if they plan well. But this work needs to be done with out affecting passengers especially who those doing the transit.

Here are my some suggestions how needs to be planned : -

Close the runway between 13:30 and 21:30 ;

Reduced the flight movements by deploying bigger aircraft. E.g use daily A330 to KUL instead of double daily A320.

Reshedule the flights. E.g. change the middle east departures of UL flights from 18:## to 13:##.

It looks like LGW had done the resurfacing for its single runway in 2012 :

LGW has a backup runway parallel to its main?

Good move to shift all the flight operation to BIA and expand BIA. It's better than maintaining both. Give RML fully to Air Force.

Found this part from a articel about Ranil's Megapolis plan, they are apparently working with German proffesionals to expand BIA

PM to be given Megapolis first draft


“It will also contain the translation of the vision into something solid and tangible. The vision is to make it the most liveable place in South Asia. We want to make it a smart city, a technologically savvy city; we want to do a quantum leap into the 22nd Century,” he said.
The Megapolis office is also working with a German aviation professional to build a second runway at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA).
“To make everything work we need to be a hub. So to have an aviation hub with an international airport with just one runway is impossible. A second runway is a must because there is going to be a lot of activity and we need to connect it with the port, which is already more or less a hub. Then we are creating an IT City around Malabe and a Forest City in Kalutara. The Megapolis area is from Negombo to Kalutara to Avissawella and we are fortunate in having lots of trees so we want to incorporate those elements. We will also try to have a university in Kalutara.”


- See more at: http://www.ft.lk/article/505021/PM-t....oJQMh6oa.dpuf

Sri Lanka's Mattala airport to offer aircraft parking


ECONOMYNEXT- Sri Lanka will soon offer aircraft parking services from the country's second international airport in Mattala, Transport Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said.

State-run Airport and Aviation Services making loan repayments of 2.5 billion rupees a year for the Chinese built and financed airport, he said. There were 576 workers in the airport but aircraft movements are few and far between.

"We want to offer aircraft parking services, at this airport," he told parliament on December 09. "We need to keep the airport operating as the alternative airport to divert aircraft."

Long-term aircraft parking is offered at little used airports for operators who want to keep equipped that has taken off service especially during slumps. Regular airlines as well as aircraft leasing companies need long term parking for aircraft.

Minister de Silva said opportunities will also be given for flying schools and a maintenance services to be offered from the airport

I dont know why SL gov is confusing things. I doubt any company is interested in opening traing school or maintanance hangar at HRI.

To make it easy CMB should be used for domestic/international pax & cargo operations, RML should be used for aviation training schools and biz jet parkings and HRI should be used for airforce base. Why on earth gov not shifting airforce base from CMB to HRI.

domestic airports to be privately managed



At least four domestic airports in Sri Lanka in proximity to key tourist resorts are likely to be handed over for private management.
Civil Aviation Authority Director General H.M.C. Nimalsiri told the Business Times that they had submitted a proposal to the government to ensure that the domestic airports currently manned by the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) would come under civil administration in future.

In this respect, the authorities have proposed private investment in operating four of the 16 airports at Batticaloa, Katukurunda, Ratmalana and Sigiriya, since the government cannot manage the huge cost in maintaining these airports.The Ratmalana airport is proposed to be converted to a city airport for which more space could be allocated on one side to ensure that civil operation could be further enhanced without any hindrance to operate private jets. It would also ease congestion at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) and it was possible to charge a higher fee than what was currently charged at the BIA, he noted.

The Katukurunda domestic airfield was said to be ideal as a training course but since the SLAF was in control of this facility the students would have to go through a strict security control and civilians were not willing to go through such controls.In this regard, the CAA DG proposed that the SLAF occupy one side of the airfield and leave the rest for free access to students. A sum of over Rs.1 billion has been spent on refurbishment at the Batticaloa airport.

Western Region Megapolis Master Plan
9.3 Aero City
The Aero City, will involve development of airport infrastructure
including Aerodrome, New Passenger Terminal, Aero-City
Business-Park, Airport Hotel, and an International Convention
Centre, along with the development of an Aero-City Residential
Township at Minuwangoda. The project will consist of the
airport cluster and a residential township cluster. The airport
cluster is aimed at growing the aviation related businesses
around the airport, including the development of second
runway, the airport extension, the development of aviation
industries, logistic and MICE businesses around the airport,
while the residential clusters will complement the airport city
development by providing well planned residential areas in
proximity to the employment centre around the airport. Various
types of housing, recreational, commercial and public facilities
will be integrated in the township, ensuring a good quality living
environment.
This project will attract investors in the airport development,
airport operation & management, aviation related industrial
developers as well as real estate developers.
The specific projects to be undertaken under ‘Aero City’
development include the following:
 Bandaranayake International Airport (BIA) Aerodrome
Upgrade
 Expansion of Existing Passenger Terminal Building at BIA
 BIA Development Project Stage II Phase II
 Transit Hotel at BIA
 Proposed Runway of BIA
 Establishment of the Business Park in the Aero City
 Establishment of Convention and Expo Center in the
Aero City
 Establishment of the Hotel School in the Aero City
 Car Rental and Transport Facilities in the Aero City
 Aero City Township Development - Divulapitiya
In addition, a separate zone named ‘Logistics Village’ will be
established to cater to the logistics needs of the overall Aero
Maritime Trade Hub.

plans looks good. but they have to implement those ASAP.

Air mega city government Minuwangoda police plan !


Under the urban development program to be implemented in the future by the government is preparing to establish that the air around the city Minuwangoda area. Under the future to meet the new passenger terminal of the airport infrastructure, air business premises, hotels, conference halls premises, training centers and other features, is one. The plan will begin the second phase of development of the international airport at Katunayake and the second runway of the aircraft will be designed to fit the new requirements

any news on Bandaranaike International Airport Phase II Expansion Project

shifting AF base to HRI .
well still Security concerned people doesn't like it coz it takes more time to reach colombo "that is their point" . but i hope and pray there wont be any terrorism in the country , and AF is planing to buy 8 pakisthanis JF 17s ( i dont know why 8 of them now, and the number "8" is not from a confirmed source ) . If AF is not happy shifting AF base to HRI they can move their Helicopter assets to RML build a new hanger and keep all the MI 24s Bell 412s, 212s n mi 17s parked their , move all the jets to HRI.