Colombo Airport Ratmalana Towards a New Era

January 03, 2020

As per the guidance of  Hon. Minister, the newly-appointed Chairman, the Board of Directors along with the Heads of Divisions and senior officers of AASL visited the Colombo Airport, Ratmalana on 03rd January 2020 as their 1st official visit to explore the strategic initiatives to develop the commercial viability of the airport. 

Colombo Airport, Ratmalana founded in 1935, was the first international airport in Sri Lanka which started commercial operations from 28 February 1938. It served all international flight operations until the inauguration of Katunayake airport on 15 November 1969. Colombo Airport, Ratmalana is conveniently located just 14 km from Sri Lanka’s Business Capital of Colombo and connects many distant areas of the country. It operates around 70 Aircraft movements per day. It is the Domestic Aviation Hub that serves all domestic aviation needs including Commercial Passenger Aircraft, Aviation Training Schools, International Corporate Jets, VIP & VVIP movements, humanitarian missions during national crisis situations and SLAF operations.

A Master Plan of the Colombo Airport, Ratmalana has been developed for its envisioned future to position the airport as the ‘’Exclusive Gateway to Colombo, Sri Lanka’’. Along with the major development plans of the country, Colombo Airport, Ratmalana stands a great potential to contribute to the growth of the tourism industry in the country. 

Major General (Rtd) G. A. Chandrasiri, the new Chairman of Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Limited, the Board of Directors and the senior officials of AASL had very successful discussions which prompted AASL to re-commence regional operations to the Maldivian Islands and the South-Indian sectors in the future. Further, the possibilities were explored for increasing the international corporate jet operations and new commercial opportunities for the development of the domestic aviation industry.