Sri Lankan government to upgrade Palaly Airport in northern region to the level of a regional airport
The government of Sri Lanka is reportedly looking at upgrading the Palaly Airport in the Northern Province to the level of a regional airport in order to operate flights to South Indian cities by the end of this year.
Sri Lanka’s Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva has reportedly said that a joint Cabinet paper is to be submitted by the ministries of Transport and Civil Aviation, Policy Planning and Economic Development and Tourism to seek Rs 1.2 billion for the refurbishment of the Palaly Airport.
“The initial plan will be to convert Palaly into a regional airport and thereafter to an international airport with flights to other countries,” de Silva has been quoted as telling a local English newspaper.
He has said the refurbishment plan would be handled by the Sri Lanka Air Force.
Jaffna District Additional Secretary (Lands) S. Muralitharan has told the Sunday Times that a feasibility study had been carried out to develop the airport. This included a detailed study on the population of the area, schools and electrical overhead cables in the vicinity.
He has said that, accordingly about 250 more acres around the Palaly airbase would be released to the civilians.
A three-member Indian aviation delegation has reportedly visited the Palaly airport last week. Civil Aviation Director General H.M.C. Nimalsiri has told the media that the Civil Aviation Authority was finalizing the first phase of the Palaly airport development project and based on the demand for service, the airport would be further developed in phases.
OSL take:
The government’s move to develop the Palaly Airport in the country’s northern region to the level of a regional airport shows the expanding opportunities to engage in Sri Lanka’s aviation sector. The Sri Lankan government in its 2018 Budget declared that domestic airports would be developed with the aim of the further developing the country’s aviation sector. Accordingly, measures have already been taken to develop several domestic airports. However, the development of the Palaly Airport to the level of a regional airport would create many business opportunities for the discerning investor. The development of domestic airports would also help boost the country’s tourism sector as well. Therefore, foreign businesses/investors could look at investment opportunities in Sri Lanka since the country is poised for continuous growth
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/29082018/Z_8 |