Bandaranaike International Airport Ground Breaking Ceremony of Resurfacing of the Runway

January 06, 2017

The ground breaking ceremony of resurfacing of the runway, a Rs.7.2 billion project at Bandaranaike International Airport, Katunayake was underway with an inauguration ceremony attended by the Honorable Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva on 6th January 2017 along with Deputy Minister Mr. Ashoka Abeysinghe.

During the closure, the runway will be overlaid to improve surface conditions and friction levels of the runway. This would be the first time such an overlay project is to be carried out since the commissioning of the runway in 1986.

The Airport Aviation management and staff have initiated numerous plans in-order to ease out passenger movements during the closure of the airport for eight hours daily, from 6th January to 6th April 2017. The airport has an average of 170 total aircrafts movements per day. 90% of its aircraft operations have been rescheduled their operations prioritizing the need for construction work during the given period. All airlines and other stakeholders have extended their fullest cooperation in this regard considering the importance of such critical project, which will upgrade the value of the BIA.

Photos by: AASL Media