Sri Lanka BIA Airport to Add another Runway as Traffic Grows

19th April 2011, www.lankabusinessonline.com

Sri Lanka's international airport is to acquire 100 hectares of land to build a parallel runway required to handle growing aircraft traffic that could soon saturate existing capacity, an official said.

A post-war economic and tourism boom has led to an increase in the number of airlines flying to the island as well as in the frequency of flights.

Johanne Jayaratne, executive director of Airports and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka), a state agency which operates airports, said increasing traffic made the need for a parallel runway at the island's sole international airport at Katunayake more urgent.

He said 32 airlines now use the airport, just north of Colombo, with Aeroflot expected to resume flights soon.

The airport now handles 3,354 monthly scheduled flights, excluding charter flights, he told a recent forum.

The single runway has a capacity of 42,000 aircraft movements a year.

"We're now doing over 30,000 and will be close to maximum capacity," Jayaratne said.

That made it important to go ahead with building a proposed parallel runway at the airport but it was difficult to expand in the densely populated and industrialised area.

"We now handle 12 aircraft movements an hour during peak times. Our capacity is 25. It will catch up on us pretty fast. So we're actively pursuing the acquisition of land to ensure we can have a parallel runway."

An air force base and an export processing zone to the north and south of the airport were constraints, Jayaratne said.

"Acquiring land is going to pose its own challenges but the importance of acquiring land is pretty obvious to everybody."

A parallel runway close to the present one was not desirable owing to safety concerns, making it necessary to acquire about 100 hectares of land.

H M C Nimalsiri, director general of civil aviation authority, told the forum that a parallel runway at Katunayake would help airlines reduce costs.

"If we can provide a parallel runway with the necessary separation they can come with less fuel and more payload."

Aircraft now fly to Sri Lanka with extra fuel in case they have to divert to airports in India or the Maldives if the Katunayake runway is closed in an emergency.

Related Info :

• Sri Lanka Seeks Investors for Airport Monorail, Multi Storey Car Park & a Hotel

• Airline Passenger & Investor Protection Strengthen in Sri Lanka

Colombo BIA Airport Passenger Movements Up 26pct with A Sharp Increase in Tourist Arrivals

23rd December 2010, www.dailynews.lk, By Irangika Range

Passenger movements handled by the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) has increased by 26 percent recording a total number of 3,860,507 passengers during the period of January to September this year.

This is in comparison to 3,074,687 movements during the corresponding period of 2009. A Ports and Aviation Ministry Spokesman said this is due to the tourist boom and increasing of tourist arrivals from the second half of 2009 in post war in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka witnessed a sharp increase in tourist arrivals this year which has continued to rise every month after the restoration of peace. The total forecasted passenger movements for 2010 is 5,248,524 compared to 4,242,356 and 4,642,831 movements recorded in 2009 and 2008 respectively.

Meanwhile, plans are afoot to enhance passenger at the BIA. It has been planned to operate tax free appeal shopping mall facilities at the Katunayake, BOI zone to attract more visitors to Sri Lanka. This tax free shopping mall is located adjacent to the arrivals terminal and is connected by the sky bridge. It is also planned to refurbish the departure and arrival porches to add more elegance to the BIA. Similarly, connecting walkways will also be refurbished to provide an aesthetically pleasing environment. This project is expected to be completed by the end of 2011.

Related Info:
Sri Lanka Tourism Statistics and Tourist Arrivals

Domestic Air Terminal for Colombo BIA Airport, Sri Lanka

07th November 2010, www.sundayobserver.lk, By Shirajiv Sirimane

The Airport Aviation Service Services (AASL) is to build a domesticair terminal at the Bandaranaike International airport (BIA) inColombo.

Chairman, AASL, Prasanna Wickramasuriya said that the old SriLankanairline catering service would be used for this purpose.

“We are now drawing plans to get this project off the ground,” he said.

The main objective of this is to enable a passenger to take aconnecting flight to several domestic airports which are currentlybeing developed.

Mihin Lanka has already announced that they would be starting aColombo Jaffna domestic flights for BIA.

Malaysian Company Invests $100mn on Speed Railway from Colombo to Katunayake, Sri Lanka

20th September 2010, www.dailynews.lk, By Ramani Kangaraarachchi

A leading Malaysian company is to develop a US $ 100 million speed railway project in Sri Lanka. The proposed railway from Colpetty to the Katunayake Airport is aimed at the huge influx of expected tourist arrivals in the coming years.

Airport Express Lanka Ltd, Director Dr Parimalan Rajo Isa Michael told Daily News Business that he is awaiting Sri Lankan Government’s endorsement to commence the project next year. He said that an eight storey hotel of international standards with a shopping complex in the beach front will be constructed where tourists can check in from the airport straight away at the Colpetty station.

A new railway track along the coastal line will be built parallel to the existing line and it will be operated by wind power technology from Denmark.

Electricity also will be used to a certain extent. Required land will be leased to have ample parking space. This project will contribute to the Sri Lanka Electricity Board, the tourism industry and other Government agencies in a big way. The State Engineering Corporation will design the entire project.

The 35 Km long railway track will be completed in two and a half years without any cost to the Sri Lanka Government. Funding will be provided by Malaysian and US companies.

Dr Michel said that this improvement of the railway station will create a number of employment opportunities for Sri Lankans in the fields of construction, engineering, labour supply and trading. The hotel will be run by Malaysians and latest technology will be applied in every system and software will come from Hong Kong.

The railway company is hoping to do 18 trips a day and 120 passengers can be accommodated in a train.

The company is hoping to recover the investment in 15 to 25 years.

Sri Lanka's Colombo-Katunayake Rail Track to be Upgraded with Korean Assitance. Monorail to be Setup Simultaneously

09th September 2010, www.dailynews.lk, By Ramani Kangaraarachchi

The Korean Government will assist Sri Lanka to upgrade the Colombo- Katunayake railway track with the setting up of the monorail project simultaneously.

BOI Country Officer for Korea K D Jayawardena told Daily News Business that the initial investment will be around USD 50 million for this project which will include improving the signal system and increasing speed and replacing new locomotives and coaches. With the completion of this project, passengers who travel abroad can check-in straight away at the airport which is a huge advantage.

He said there will be ample parking space at central railway stations where people can come to the stations and board the train leaving their vehicles in the park like in other countries.

This will also reduce environmental pollution while reducing cost of fuel on road transport. There will be huge potential for the private sector as Korea is not going to bring manpower other than for technology.

He hoped that engineers and construction companies will have opportunities at the implementation stage of the project. There is no requirement to acquire lands for railway tracks as they will replace the existing tracks.

Jayawardena said the Korean Government pledged that it would look into the every possibility to assist Sri Lanka to achieve this objective in view of the current peaceful and business conducive environment for foreign direct investments.

A three member committee headed by the Railways General Manager has been appointed to follow up this project. The next meeting is scheduled to be held in October in Seoul.

Meanwhile 20 engineers are due to undergo training on the project in Korea shortly.

Sri lanka's Colombo Airport to Add a New Terminal

06th July 2010, www.news360.lk

Sri Lanka’s only International Airport in Katunayake will start building its second terminal from next year.

Vice Chairman of the Airport and Aviation Authority Kamal S. Ratwatte said the

US $ 300 million “terminal” once in operation will cater to 6 million passengers per annum.

He said, currently the Colombo Airport only operates with a single terminal consisting of 10 gates and is only capable of catering to 6 million passengers per annum.

He said already its capacity has reached 4.2 million passengers and expects it to reach the full capacity very soon.

The Vice Chairman of the Airport and Aviation Authority said therefore the need for the new terminal is increasing.

The new terminal once starts construction work in 2011 will be completed by 2014.

Ratwatte said currently they are discussing with JICA over the funding for this terminal which will have 12 gates.

The first terminal of the Airport was also funded by JICA.

Sri Lanka is currently also working on building a second international airport in the deep south of the country.

Sri Lanka's BIA Colombo Airport to Add a New Terminal

60th July 2010, www.news360.lk

Sri Lanka’s only International Airport in Katunayake will start building its second terminal from next year.
Vice Chairman of the Airport and Aviation Authority Kamal S. Ratwatte said the

US $ 300 million “terminal” once in operation will cater to 6 million passengers per annum.

He said, currently the Colombo Airport only operates with a single terminal consisting of 10 gates and is only capable of catering to 6 million passengers per annum.

He said already its capacity has reached 4.2 million passengers and expects it to reach the full capacity very soon.

The Vice Chairman of the Airport and Aviation Authority said therefore the need for the new terminal is increasing.

The new terminal once starts construction work in 2011 will be completed by 2014.

Ratwatte said currently they are discussing with JICA over the funding for this terminal which will have 12 gates.

The first terminal of the Airport was also funded by JICA.

Sri Lanka is currently also working on building a second international airport in the deep south of the country.

Fast Train Services Link Sri Lanka's International Airport to Colombo City

01st June 2010, www.news.lk

A Super fast train service links the Bandaranaike International Airport with the city of Colombo from today.

The journey will take 30 minutes and it will run three to four times each way daily. This will greatly facilitate the distinguished visitors arriving this week to attend the Indian mega film awards ceremony IIFA.

Transport Minister Kumar Welgama and Member of Parliament Namal Rajapaksa inaugurated the new train service this morning.

The luxury train service is administered by the Airport & Aviation Services Limited (AASL). The AASL has hired a luxury train with air-conditioned coaches from Sri Lanka Railway for this special service.

Airport Express Luxury Train Service Operating Schedule

Mahindra Lifespace Developers to Develop Special Economic Zone in Katunayake

14th December 2009, www.island.lk, By Zacki Jabbar

A 65-acre Special Economic Zone to be established in Katunayake,will be developed by Mahindra Lifespace Developers, a subsidary of Indian conglomerate Mahindra & Mahindra.

Anand G Mahindra,Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of Mahindra & Mahindra, told the Island Financial Review that the Memorandum of Understanding between MLD and the Sri Lankan government, has been finalised and work on the SEZ was expected to commence in the new year.

"Our presence in Sri Lanka, has so far been confined to mainly supplying tractors and three wheel taxis," he said." But,with the end of Sri Lanka’s 30-year-old war, we intend expanding our operations to other areas as well."

A Board of Investment spokesman said the multi development SEZ, will include an Information Technology Park. "It will offer three million square feet of built office space and the prospect of generating over 30,000 jobs. Investors would have a strategic advantage as the SEZ is located opposite the Katunayake International Airport."

The Mahindra Group, with an estimated worth of US$ 6.3 billion, has a strong presence in virtually every sector across the globe and is into diverse businesses such as automobiles, engines, information technology, holidays, rural finance, engineering and stamping and steel.

Its journey began with making general purpose utility vehicles in 1945.