Construction work to modernise the Hingurakgoda Domestic Airport for international flight operations commenced on Friday (July 19) under the patronage of Minister of Ports, Shipping and Aviation Nimal Siripala de Silva.
The airport, formerly known as RAF Minneriya, was built during World War II for the British Royal Air Force. The Government has decided to transform the airport, located in the middle of the country, into an international airport, to strengthen Sri Lanka’s economic enhancement. Budget 2024 has allocated Rs. 2 billion for its initial construction and development. In Phase 1, the current 2,287-metre-long and 46-metre-wide runway will be extended to 2,500 metres.
Construction work is scheduled to be completed in six months to accommodate the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 aircraft. A spokesman for the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Aviation said that the total construction cost, estimated at around Rs. 17 billion, will be carried out by the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF). The total supervision of the project has been entrusted to Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Limited. The runway expansion will occur within the perimeter of the SLAF Base Hingurakgoda, eliminating the need for additional land acquisition.
This project, the largest in the history of the Sri Lanka Air Force, demonstrates the SLAF’s civil engineering capabilities and commitment to enhancing Sri Lanka’s aviation sector by constructing an international runway at the Hingurakgoda Airport. A skilled workforce of SLAF Airmen from the Air Field Construction Wing at SLAF Base Ratmalana will execute the project, coordinated by the Director of the Special Project Management Unit, Air Vice Marshal Engineer Sumedha Silva.
Minister of Ports, Shipping and Aviation Nimal Siripala de Silva said that the modernisation project will transform the Hingurakgoda airport into an international airport. He said that Rs. 2 billion had been allocated through the 2023 Budget for the airport’s development and that the Government would allocate funds each year for its construction.
“Our ultimate goal is to operate the Hingurakgoda airport as an international civil airport, similar to the Mattala, Katunayake, Ratmalana and Palali airports. Therefore, I request the collaborative support of all concerned parties to make this development project a success,” the Minister said.
State Minister Siripala Gamlath, Secretary to the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Aviation K.D.S. Ruwanchandra, Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa, Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority G.S. Withanage, Chairman of the Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd. Eng. Athula Galketiya, Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority, Air Vice Marshal Sagara Kotakadeniya and several other officials were present.
