Anuradhapura airbase designated as Int’l airport for a day

Colombo, April 7 (Daily Mirror)- The Anuradhapura airbase was declared an international airport effective for one day to facilitate the departure of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a separate aircraft to Rameswaram in the southern part of India yesterday.

The gazette notification was issued last Friday designating the airport as an international airport for emigration clearance of the Prime Minister and his team..

International flight operations can be conducted only at the designated airports. In addition to the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), Ratmalana, Mattala, Jaffna and Batticaloa are the only international airports in Sri Lanka.

Director General of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA ) Sagara Kotakadeniya confirmed the designation of the airport, and it was valid only for one day.

"This is an airport with no facilities to conduct international travel arrangements. Even big aircraft cannot operate from there. The immigration and emigration authorities approved clearance for departure of the Indian leader and his team from this airport. For that purpose, a gazette notification was issued," he said.

The Indian Prime Minister, along with his security detail, left the country from Anuradhapura while the rest of his entourage including External Affairs Minister

Dr. S. Jaishankar departed from the Bandaranaike International Airport.