What a waste! HRI is struggling and CMB is in a dilapidated condition first soft these out then think about what to do afterwards

Joke of the year..... 3 airports for a such small country, we r still even struggling to utilize HRI, now another one...

There's no money - so it doesn't really matter what they want!

Just more "Big Talk" imho.

What is your suggestion for a way out of the loss making venture??

Instead of wasting more money, they should move the air force base to Hingurangoda from BIA and use that money to put up a second runway.

A 2nd runway is the most urgent need ATM instead of setting up a airport somewhere and trying to figure out why no one is flying there.

Re-instate the Rule of Law.

Cut the losses - close down the Airport and UL. There is no way to ever make these profitable.

Prosecute those responsible and strip them of their illegally obtained assets. Almost $20 Billion was transferred out of the country during 10 years of Family Rule. Recover this money and use it to pay off the country's debt.

Kick the Chinese out.

Vote every single Politician currently in Parliament out of Office and hold them accountable for the state of the country.

Elect some better people - term limits for all. And full accountability!

Hows that?

Joke of the century

BIA to get a domestic flight terminal



The Government is to build a separate new terminal at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) for the use of domestic flights in order to promote domestic air travel for the benefit of tourists, with the development of all domestic airports and using bigger aircraft.

The Cabinet Approval was granted for a proposal made for this purpose jointly by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as the Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs and State Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation Asoka Abeysinghe last week.

Accordingly, the National Agency for Public-Private Partnership (NAPPP), with the assistance of the Director General Civil Aviation (DGCA) has called for Expression of Interests (EOIs) to set up scheduled domestic air services and five investment proposals have been received

They are- Saffron Aviation, FITS Aviation, SJ Global Investments, Lotus Air and IWS Aviation.

These companies are ready to use bigger aircraft with more seating capacity up to 118 seats for domestic flights from their own investment.

These Expressions of Interest (EOI) s have been evaluated by a committee composing Director General of Civil Aviation, the NAPPP Chairman and Executive Director Airport and Aviation Services.

Based on the evaluation of the proposals made by prospective investors and several post-bid discussions, a few recommendations have been made by the committee:

Each of those who responded to the EOI may submit applications to the DG-CA for required licenses, permits and facilities for operations and such permits shall be provided on a first come first served basis.

The domestic terminal to be created at BIA for common use on identified AASL land. Also, there is no hangar space at BIA for each operator separately, but one hangar to be constructed for maintenance work of all domestic operators.

A portion of Apron D at the BIA to be designated as Domestic Apron for use of domestic flight enabling application of different charging mechanisms and avoiding possible complaints by foreign airlines for discriminatory practices at the international airport.

Hangar space to be provided at Ratmalana for night parking of aircraft as this cannot be done at BIA.

Batticaloa, Sigiriya, Palali, Hingurakgoda, Koggala and Trincomalee to be made available in Phase 1 for scheduled carriers on a needs basis.

Domestic aviation needs to be carried out under the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) rules in conformity with international standards. As such, CAA and SLAF would jointly work out modalities for Trincomalee, Sigiriya, Palali, Hingurakgoda and Koggala airports to ensure that all civilian operations at these airports are carried out under CAA rules.

Self-handling by private operators will be permitted other than at BIA. Ground handling charges and cargo rates OF BIA to be revised downward for domestic carriers in consultation with Sri Lankan Airlines.

Suitable arrangements to be made for fuel supply at each airport through SLAF or CPC. Allocation of slots will be subject to providing priority to international, SLAF and VIP air traffic as determined by DGCA

Due to constraints faced by private operators, the DGCA in consultation with the Ministry of Defense and UDA to identify few locations in Colombo City for passenger pick-up and drop-off. (Sandun A Jayasekera) (daily mirror)

How many times over the years and in how many iterations has a new domestical terminal been announced and promised? Atleast 10?!
Every few months one is announced yet nothing visible ever seems to take place.
I doubt this one will ever get off the ground. Oh well, it's made me laugh on this Friday afternoon.

Indian Airline to operate from Mattala??

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Sri Lanka has asked the Airport Authority of India to submit its business plan for operating the country's loss-making Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport in southern Hambantota, Civil Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva told parliament today.

The minister's remarks came in response to the Opposition's question asking the government to disclose the details of the deal.

The USD 210 million facility, 241-km south-east of Colombo, is dubbed the "world's emptiest airport".

The airport was officially opened in March 2013. The only international flight operating from there was halted in May due to recurrent losses and flight safety issues.

Airport Authority of India (AAI) and Sri Lanka's Civil Aviation Authority will enter into a joint venture agreement to operate the airport, named after former President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his home district.

The Mattala Airport was built with high interest commercial loans from China.

"We asked for proposals to operate this loss-making airport," de Silva said when the AAI came forward with a 70-30 per basis joint venture.

"They have to give us the business plan, how many flights they would bring in, which Indian airlines would service this airport," he said.

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa-led Joint Opposition has dubbed the proposed deal as a sellout.

Early this month, de Silva while speaking at the adjournment motion moved by the Opposition had said, "We need to revive this dying airport which caused a massive loss of rupees 20 billion".

The final terms of the agreement with India, however, remains to be worked out, the minister had said.

The airport has the capacity to handle one million passengers a year and is expected to handle five million passengers, 50,000 tonnes of cargo and 6,250 air traffic operations per annum by 2028.

The government in 2017 invited investors to turn the airport into a profit-sharing joint venture. However, no proposals were received to operate, manage and maintain it.

The seaport built in Hambantota, another Rajapaksa pet project, has been leased to China to set off Chinese loans as equity.

Source-newstoday

The government has to think about economy growth and what is really needed for Sri Lanka.
I can see mistakes have been one after another. Sri Lanka needs proper one international airport with two runways, dedicated domestic terminal, updated international terminal etc, Instead of spending money on third international airport. Sri Lanka supposed to move the air force base from Katunayake to Mattala and Ratmalana.

Hingurakgoda, next airport in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is currently looking at the prospect of establishing an airport in Hingurakgoda at an estimated cost of US$65 million.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has a vision of airports around the island with the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) on the West coast, Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) on the South coast and another airport for the East that would be the thinking behind the Hingurakgoda airport, Airport and Aviation Services Ltd. (AASL) Executive Director Johanne Jayaratne told the Business Times.

He noted that the cost estimate for the Hingurakgoda airport has been identified at US$65 million as it would only involve the development of mainly the runway, lighting and terminal construction to cater to international standards with a capacity of one million passengers arriving on narrow body aircraft like A320 and A319. The runway length would be 2287 metres and a width of 46 metres.

At present the airport is manned by the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) and operated as a military facility that was in operation since 1942 during the time of the Royal Air Force and in proximity to Polonnaruwa.

However, Mr. Jayaratne, an expert in the aviation industry, believes the BIA and Mattala airports are sufficient and connected to the 12 domestic airports in the country.

“So many international airports may not be viable,” he said adding that authorities would need to convince airlines to fly in directly to the airport.

This plan for an Eastern airport is currently being worked out under the Megapolis plan of action for the development of Trincomalee as an economic hub. [the Sunday times]

Dumb retards. Thinking ahead before everything! SriLankan is facing losses at one point, BIA is over-crowded and needs another terminal in another point, and another empty airport just lying around.

Why can't they think of one solution and finish it off first, and then start over on a new solution later? Most importantly BIA needs to be renovated, and a new runway is also needed due to the growth in traffic, and also needs a new terminal for the over-crowded pax.

I highly doubt all these plans will work until the root of all is fixed.

I totally agree. Just the government is increasing more ghost airports in the country. I am wondering who is going to finance for the third international airport in Hingurukgoda. Hopefully not much money going to be spent on the terminal at Hingurukgoda. I seriously don't know where they are planning to operate A319/A320 type of aircraft from Hingurukgoda.

Guys, do you have any update about New Apron and terminal refurbishments at katunayake airport? I wish they complete the domestic terminal at the apron D.