• Batticaloa International Airport will be developed as a fully-fledged airport in the Eastern Province
• A tripartite agreement is to be signed

Batticaloa International Airport is being developed as a fully-fledged domestic airport in the Eastern Province. Its purpose is to provide services to local and foreign tourists, says Minister of Tourism, Prasanna Ranatunga.

A tripartite agreement is also expected to be signed between the Airport and Aviation Services Company, the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka and the Air Force for this purpose. The Civil Aviation Authority is currently drafting this agreement. It is expected to create a clear distinction between civil and military operations in this airport. It is also expected to construct air traffic control towers, fire and rescue facilities along the northern part of the runway.

Minister Prasanna Ranatunga says that a special program will be implemented to identify commercial investment opportunities within the airport premises. The Minister also said that the focus is on investment opportunities that fall/not fall into the category of air navigation. Stakeholders of tourism in the Batticaloa area have already launched a special project to promote the Batticaloa Airport with activists in the tourism sector.

Meanwhile, arrangements have been made to resume the scheduled flights between Jaffna-Colombo which were canceled due to the Covid pandemic. Accordingly, discussions are underway with the relevant companies and it is hoped that the flights will be resumed in the first quarter of this year.