Goodnews!!

SriLankan Airlines commissioned its new A320 Hangar on 27th September, 2013, expanding work space that will contribute to more efficient and faster aircraft technical services to airlines that fly into the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Colombo, the airline said in a statement.

Mapila 'checks in' at Mattala VIP lounge
by Sulochana Ramiah Mohan


The Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) is constantly 'visited' by many reptiles, with the latest visitors being a mapila (cat snake) and a python. Two days ago, the staff had captured a python at the terminal, and handed it over to the Department of Wildlife Conservation.

The mapila had been spotted in the VIP lounge. Airport staff revealed that reptiles crawl into the terminal, especially during heavy showers.

When Ceylon Today contacted Airport Manager, Piyadasa Ratnayake, he admitted there was a python, which was subsequently captured and handed over to the wildlife officials. "The MRIA itself is in the middle of a jungle, and is surrounded by a Wildlife Sanctuary. Therefore, it is natural that such creatures show up here," he said, and added that they work closely with the Wildlife Department, so that no harm is caused to any creature that creeps into the airport.

Ratnayake went on to say, from the time the MRIA was launched in March 2013, the airport has had 30,000 passengers passing through. "We are promoting the airport in many countries and we hope it would gradually pick up. Although the MRIA has been incurring more expenses against the revenue it is receiving, we are managing with the income derived, in our day-to-day operations," he said.


The MRIA caters to about 17 flights per week, including the national carrier, SriLankan, and the budget airline, Mihin Air. Ratnayake opined that the MRIA would need another five to 10 years to be fully operational.

Ratmalana Airport to be used to park planes during CHOGM

The Ratmalana Airport would be kept ready to accommodate international flights during the Commonwealth Heads of Government (CHOGM) Summit if and when it is needed, the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka said yesterday.

Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority H. M. C. Nimalsiri told Daily Mirror that the airport was ready to accept international flights during the summit.

“The airport is capable of handling commercial business jets if there is congestion at the Bandaranaike International Airport during the Commonwealth Summit,” he said. He pointed out that small jets can land at the airport even now.

According to Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Dr. Ravindra Ruberu heads of state that wish to fly in their private jets to participate in the summit will be allowed to park their aircraft at the Ratmalana Airport .

However, he reiterated that all heads of state would be expected to arrive at the Bandaranaike International Airport while their private jets would be sent to the Ratmalana Airport to be parked there.

The Ratmalana Airport was constructed in 1934 and operated international flights till the new airport at Katunayake came into operation in 1967 after which it was left with the relatively small market for domestic air travel.

Great!! So CMB and RML going to be filled with many private jets. Does RML has enough space to park the private jets from All countries?

Great News.. whats the biggest it can go? 737? 320s?

Interesting! According to Wiki, Ratmalana has 2000m runway so RML's runway length is similar to Toyama where they servicing Widebody jets like B767 as well. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ratmalana_Airport)

What's gonna happen to big birds then??

I think the story says only for small birds.
so not 737s or 320s.

Sri Lanka opens first private air terminal

Sri Lanka opened its first private sector-operated domestic air terminal at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) recently.

The new ter minal has been developed by Saffron Aviation (Pvt.) Ltd which operates Cinnamon Air, a BOIapproved joint venture with an investment of USD 10 million jointly owned by John Keells Holdings, Mercantile Merchant Bank and Phoenix Ventures, the holding company of Brandix.

The airline has been in operation since July this year with daily scheduled flights to tourist destinations within the island.

The new terminal is located in a picturesque garden within the BIA. The airline also has its own hangar at the airport, equipped with state-ofthe-art maintenance facilities.

Cinnamon Air has invested Rs.20 million on the new terminal and the airline operates a fleet of three Cessna aircraft, two amphibious and one wheeled, each offering eight passenger seats and daily scheduled flights as well as charter and scenic flights on demand.

“Cinnamon Air, carried over 900 passengers over the last three months and the projected break-even period is three years,’’ Cinnamon Air Director Romesh David said. “Setting up the airline has enhanced the national tourism infrastructure,’’ he added. Departure and arrival times of Cinnamon Air’s flights from and to the BIA will be synchronized as closely as possible with the arrival and departure times of SriLankan Airlines and most of the other major international carriers serving Colombo.

Who knows some news concerning the 8 hour closing time für CMB in January during the runway repair?
At what time will be closed? At night?

probably between midnight and 6 am.............when congestion is less

MATTALA AND BIA TO HANDLE CHOGM TRAFFIC

REFURBISHED TERMINAL BUILDING OF COLOMBO AIRPORT RATMALANA WAS CEREMONIALLY DECLARED OPEN BY H.E.MAHINDA RAJAPAKSA

will it handle passnger traffic in the future????