• Ratmalana Airport ready to operate regional international flights from Ratmalana after 5 decades.
• The first scheduled flight to Maldives.

Ratmalana Airport is ready to operate regional international flights after 5 decades.  The first scheduled flight from Ratmalana Airport is scheduled to depart for the Maldives by the middle of next month.  It is being implemented on the instructions of Minister of Tourism,Hon. Prasanna Ranatunga and State Minister of Aviation and Export Zone Development, Hon.DV Chanaka.

Ratmalana International Airport was established in 1938 and regional international flights were not operated after commencing the   operation of flights from Katunayake International Airport in 1968.  It is planned to operate new regional international flights, using the resources available at the Ratmalana Airport.  H.E. the President, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has stated in his policy statement that Sri Lanka will be developed as a regional aviation hub.

Accordingly, the Ratmalana Airport will be developed as a regional international airport centered on India and the Maldives.  After lengthy discussions with the Maldivian Airlines, they have agreed to resume flights from Ratmalana.  The 50-passenger aircraft will be the first to fly between Colombo and the Maldives.  The government has recently taken steps to waive off the aircraft landing and parking charges for one year for the promotion of international flights at Ratmalana Airport and to suspend the airport service tax levied on passengers for one year.

After the current government came to power, it was planned to develop the Ratmalana International Airport in five main areas.  It is to be developed as a local aviation hub, a recreational aviation center and an aviation training center.  In addition, measures will be taken to promote the importation of private jets to Sri Lanka targeting high income earners and to meet the requirements such as, technical parking services and jet refuelling for private jets etc.