Water aerodrome opens at Beira Lake to resume flights between Colombo and Katunayake

Colombo, October 3 (Daily Mirror) - Cinnamon Air’s demonstration flight to reinstate Beira Lake as a Water Aerodrome departed from Katunayake International Airport and touched down at the Cinnamon Lakeside Pier on Beira Lake today, under the patronage of Hon. Bimal Ratnayake, Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports & Civil Aviation, bringing domestic air connectivity right into the heart of Colombo city.
The Water Aerodrome at Beira Lake offers seamless connectivity between Katunayake International Airport and Colombo city and thereafter, to many tourist destinations within Sri Lanka
This initiative forms part of a wider program to expand domestic air travel and boost tourism in Sri Lanka, providing greater convenience for travelers. 

The flight operated by a Cessna 208 aircraft, flew from Katunayake Airport to the Cinnamon Lakeside Pier in Colombo. On board were Deputy Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku, Deputy Minister of Tourism Prof. Ruwan Ranasinghe, Civil Aviation Authority Chairman Sunil Jayaratne, and other dignitaries. The flight was piloted by Captain Indika Premadasa with Isuru Munasinghe as Co-Pilot.
“With this initiative, we aim to develop domestic air services and encourage more companies to expand operations to regional airports such as Palaly. The government is committed to providing maximum support for such ventures,” Minister Ratnayake said.
SriLankan Airlines previously launched water-based “Jalatara” flights in 2011–2012, but the service was suspended due to security concerns. Authorities noted that regulatory reforms under the new administration have enabled the resumption of such services, giving a boost to the tourism sector.
Cinnamon Air already operates flights to Nuwara Eliya, Kandy, Batticaloa, Sigiriya, Koggala, Weerawila, Hatton (Castlereagh), and Trincomalee. The Civil Aviation Authority further announced that in addition to Beira Lake, inspections are underway at Colombo Port City, along with plans to establish two new heliports within Colombo.
Currently, 22 inland airports have been approved for domestic operations following inspections. Officials stressed that the expansion of air connectivity is being carried out in collaboration with the Ministries of Tourism and Defense to further strengthen Sri Lanka’s aviation and tourism industries.
The launch event was attended by senior government officials, defense authorities, and representatives of the John Keells Group and Cinnamon Air.