Sri Lanka Airports

it is not "ready" they did not want RML to compete against CMB...a "union" thing

Why this is controversial? This airport has been operation before the northern civil war and what is the issue on National Security?

Some clown build an airport in deep south in a middle of a jungle and that's ok?

If that’s the case, then les hope to see SpiceJet’s Q400 and Indigo/Air India’s ATR’s at JAF soon

I do hope this doesn’t end up like Maldivian’s plan to fly to RML from MLE which never materialized simply because AASL and Srilanka Customs weren’t ready at RML to facilitate international flights

This is controversial. Why only south Indian cities? Does any airlines choose this route than Katunayake BIA. Interesting! and don't know how this will affect to National Security. However TNA demanded this. So cabinet will give approval. After this step they will definitely ask to remove Airforce base too.

Three ministries are seeking Cabinet approval to upgrade the Palaly Airport to the level of a regional airport and operate flights to South Indian cities by the end of this year, a senior cabinet minister said yesterday.

- Sunday Times

lol whts going on with those buggers. JICA is on of the most trustworthy fellas they have done so many projects in sri lanka , i dnt knw abt the financial side but i say they r trustworthy.... dman .

Exactly - all these projects are about the side deals and kickbacks to your Corrupt Politicians.

They just want their payoff - they don't care if anything actually gets built.

Bottom line - no terminal of any kind anytime soon!

As expected! The Japs will be insane if they want to invest more in Lanka! Its guaranteed that their investments would be siphoned into some idiots pocket as commission!

What a joke ! These jokers are planning to 2nd & 3rd International Airport in the country and planning masterplans for Ratmalana instead of expanding the one international airport (Katunayake).

Shame ! he is saying even the interim terminal is on planning stage. Already too late !

HOW SLOW AND INCOMPETENT IS OUR GOVERNMENT?? Would not start until 2022?

The Government is to call for fresh bids for the construction of a new terminal at the Bandaranaike International Airport after the Cabinet decided to cancel the bid from Japan on grounds that it was too high, a senior official said.

Airport and Aviation Service Sri Lanka Ltd Chairman Saman Ediriweera told the Sunday Times that the bid had a difference of 46 percent when compared to the engineer’s estimate. The Cabinet, which considered the proposal, had decided to cancel the bidding process and advised to obtain the concurrence from JICA (Japanese International Cooperation Agency) for rebidding for the US$ 700 million project.

It was also proposed to promote the project as a Public-Private Partnership (PPP). A detailed design for the project was carried out by the Japan Airport Consultants in 2006 at a cost of Rs 340 million, but the project was delayed due to a range of reasons. The bidding process for the Stage Two of the project’s phase II resumed in September/November 2016 in two packages. However only one contractor was found and that too only for one package of the project.

The decision to call fresh bids is now set to delay the construction of the terminal until 2022. Mr Ediriweera said that the present terminal handled more than 10 million passengers annually though it was geared to handle around 6 million. He said they were planning an interim terminal to meet the increasing demand.

sundaytimes.lk

There's no money for any of this - that's the hard reality.

More Sri Lanka "Big Talk" imho.

Just ignore anything the Politicians say - it's all BS.

Good move! Kandy definately need an airport. Operating flights from Colombo to Kandy would save the travellers time as train and road transport takes too long to get there.

The Sri Lankan cabinet on Wednesday approved a proposal to conduct a feasibility study to construct an airport in the central hills of Kandy in order to boost tourism in the area.


Cabinet Spokesperson Gayantha Karunathilleke said that following a proposal by Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation Nimal Siripala de Silva, cabinet had granted permission to conduct the feasibility study.


The airport will be built for domestic air services and will be aimed at boosting foreign visitors as Kandy is a popular tourist destination.


Sri Lanka aims to double the number of tourists to 5 million by 2020 as part of a new tourist strategy to boost earnings of the South Asian island country, Tourism Minister John Amaratunga said.


The primary areas of focus, according to the plan, include world-class management of natural and cultural heritage sites, strong connectivity to and around the island country and ensuring a safe and secure destination.


Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said last week the government also aims to develop airports in the north and east in order to establish a strong air connectivity throughout the island

Source-Xinhua