Renovation of Palaly Air Port to commences in August
It had been announced that the renovation work on Palaly Air Port will be commenced in August. It is also learnt the renovations will be carried out as per the recommendation of the Indian experts who studied the Air Port recently.
Earlier it was considered about the conversion of the Palaly Air Port into an International Air Port. But the Colombo Government said that the lands of people had to be acquired to facilitate the renovation.
The people of the area did not like their lands being acquired for the expansion of the Palaly Air Port. These people are currently living displaced. There resettlement is more important than the expansion of the Air Port They are insisting. Because of this the plans for expanding the Air Port was abandoned and it was announced that the Air Port will be developed as a Regional Air Port.
Meanwhile the expansion was also considered with a view of instituting air travel with Tamil Nadu in India. A group of Indian Experts led by Indian Aviation Service’s officer Deepak Sasthri visited the Air Port on 17th of March this year. In their report they had recommended that the present length of the run way is enough for a Regional Air Port and that the lands of the people need not be acquired for the said purpose. They have also indicated the design of the renovation and the probable cost for it.
It is also reliably learnt the A comprehensive report regarding this had been submitted to the Indian Aviation Services Control Board, Indian Ministry of Finance, and Indian Ministry of External Affairs and the renovation works will be commenced in August this year.
