Air Force Chief leads test landing in Hingurakgoda runway transformation

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya   

Air Force Commander Udeni Rajapaksa on Monday successfully piloted a Y-12 aircraft to land on the Hingurakgoda runway, which is undergoing transformation to meet international aviation standards and accommodate popular models like the A320 and Boeing 737.   

The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) said that it has taken the lead in designing and constructing the runway, following consultations with key stakeholders.   

The Road Development Authority (RDA) is tasked with reviewing the SLAF’s designs, while the Civil Aviation Authority and Airports and Aviation Sri Lanka are responsible for setting guidelines and regulatory frameworks through a cabinet memorandum.   

The project was officially inaugurated on 19 August 2024 by the Special Project Management Unit of the SLAF.   
The ambitious initiative is structured in four phases, with the first phase focusing on the construction of the main runway. This phase includes seven stages, and with initial funding, stages one and two have been completed, resulting in an asphalt binder course over 850 metres of the total 2,500-metre runway.  

Before proceeding with the final asphalt layer, the RDA consultant team recommended a test landing on the completed 850-metre section.   

The SLAF said that the next phase of the project, which involves extending the runway by another 850 metre, will begin on January 15.   

The initiative, with approval from the President, is aimed at completing the full 2,500-metre runway to meet the operational needs of larger aircraft.