Wartime flying restriction over Parliament, Akuregoda defence headquarters to be reduced

• Gliding path to Ratmalana airport to be opened above Parliament
• If approved, private jets will be able to land more easily at Ratmalana

By Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera

Colombo, Nov. 25 (Daily Mirror) - The government is planning to relax wartime restrictions on aircraft flying over the parliamentary complex and the defence headquarters in Akuregoda, a deputy Minister said yesterday.

Deputy Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation Janitha Ruwan Kodituwakku said that discussions are in progress with the defence ministry to reduce the current one nautical mile radius of no-fly zone to open a gliding path for aircraft to land in the Ratmalana International Airport which is also called the Colombo International Airport.

The Deputy Minister told Parliament discussions are underway with the defence ministry to halve its size.

He said if the discussions turn out to be successful, private jets could be allowed to land at the Ratmalana International Airport easily with a reduced travel time.

He said however, that this alone will not be sufficient adding that Instrumental Landing System needs to be added to facilitate night operations.

"These are restrictions imposed during the wartime. Now, we are in discussion with the defence authorities to reduce them for the improvement of flight operations at the Ratmalana International Airport," he said.

Deputy Minister Kodituwakku said this, responding to a remark made by MP Ravi Karunanayake about the need to develop Ratmalana International Airport by removing the restrictions of the no-fly zone over Parliament.

Mr. Karunanayake said the reduction of the size of the no-fly zone would encourage private jets to land at the airport.