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India-SL to upgrade Jaffna airport without acquiring more land

23 March 2016 03:47 pm - 16     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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India and Sri Lanka have agreed that the Jaffna airport in North Sri Lanka should be upgraded to be an international airport without extending the runway because fresh land acquisition is being opposed by the local people.

A five-member technical team of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) Chennai which inspected the airport recently, concluded that it could be upgraded without acquiring more land, the Indian Consul General in Jaffna, A.Natarajan, told Express on Tuesday.

“Normally, airports are built with future traffic and bigger aircraft in mind, but if something has to be done quickly in Jaffna without raking up a controversy over land acquisition, upgrading the facilities without extending the runway is the best option,” another Indian official said.

According to Natarajan an upgraded airport may become operational in a year.

The people of the area have been fearing that agricultural land which ought to be returned to them by the Lankan military after the war, may be acquired for the expansion of the airport. Northern Province Chief Minister C.V.Wigneswaran had also said that any improvements to the airport will have to be done without depriving the people of their lands.

Jaffna airport now has a runway of 2.3 kilometers which is said to be enough to take narrow body jet passenger aircraft like Boeing 717 which can carry 100 passengers.


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  Comments - 16

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  • Asela Wednesday, 23 March 2016 04:04 PM

    Planning an airport for the new country to be, good move.

    lokaya Wednesday, 23 March 2016 04:22 PM

    More Indians... Great! via DM Android App

    GKA Wednesday, 23 March 2016 04:59 PM

    Why is India inspecting the airport? Let India fund it but our people have expertise now to evaluate and take decisions on the facilities. The sell out to India continues......

    jayalalitha Wednesday, 23 March 2016 05:14 PM

    Strengthening Jaffna- Chennai connection....thanks yahapalana

    Ravi Wednesday, 23 March 2016 05:26 PM

    Good LTTE need this.

    Dee Wednesday, 23 March 2016 05:39 PM

    Good. Much better than building a new one a couple of miles away. Good strategy.

    Mohamed Wednesday, 23 March 2016 05:49 PM

    Stupid or What? Its only one country no two

    Lal Wednesday, 23 March 2016 06:04 PM

    They did a feasibility study before funding

    Lal Wednesday, 23 March 2016 06:05 PM

    They should have invested in Palaly instead of Mattala. Palaly is loser to mainland and can operate at less cost

    Lal Wednesday, 23 March 2016 06:06 PM

    Palaly is a domestic airport NOT international

    poraa Wednesday, 23 March 2016 06:45 PM

    This 5 years UNP puppet government will destroy the country and allow tamil extremists to create Eelam.. you will see next step is kankesanthurai harbour.

    lankan Wednesday, 23 March 2016 07:41 PM

    Until 1979, there was a flight from Colombo to Palali then to Trichi and back by Air Ceylon!

    vini Wednesday, 23 March 2016 08:02 PM

    Indians are our masters now.

    sach Wednesday, 23 March 2016 08:02 PM

    They trying to turn it into interl. read the news

    Lanka Watch Wednesday, 23 March 2016 09:05 PM

    CM,NPC dashed the hopes of Palaly airport becoming aregional airport, which could accept flights from India,MiddleEast and Far East,by upsetting the people around the area,not give in room for extension of runway, which couldaccommodate heavier aircraft.

    Shan Thursday, 24 March 2016 07:12 AM

    Upgrading Jaffna airport with only a 2.3 km runway An international airport Are you serious Please dont have Indians make the final decision. We must expand the runway to accommodate modern jets. Pay the land owners the current price of the land assist them to relocate. Also why are we bringing in foreigners to tell us how to expand airports how to run an ambulance service how to manage electricity..... Where are the best and brightest sons and daughters of Lanka Have they left the island via DM iOS App


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