Airports in Sri Lanka

There are 22 airports in Sri Lanka, 22 of which offer both domestic and foreign travel. The airports in Sri Lanka are well-equipped and handle a steady stream of travelers from all over the world. Of the 22 airports, 5 are used for international travel. The enhancement of domestic connection is mainly known for the remaining airports. In this article, I will try to give you an idea about some famous airports of those. Here is a list of the 22 airports in Sri Lanka.

1. Ampara Airport
2. Amparai Airport
3. Anuradhapura Airport
4. Colombo Airport
5. Batticaloa Airport
6. Bentota River Airport
7. Castlereigh Reservoir Airport
8. China Bay Airport
9. Dambulu Oya Tank Airport
10. Hingurakgoda Airport
11. Kankesanturai Airport
12. Katukurunda Slaf Base Airport
13. Kelaniya River Airport
14. Koggala Airport
15. Kondavattavan Tank Airport
16. Mahaweli Airport
17. Mawella Lagoon Airport
18. Minneriya Airport
19. Polgolla Reservoir Airport
20. Sigiriya Slaf Base Airport
21. Vic. Resevour Kandy Airport
22. Wirawila Airport 

01) Bandaranaike International Airport

The first airport with significant domestic and international airlines surfacing the runway is the Bandaranayake International Airport, which is in Colombo, the capital city of Sri Lanka. Three terminals and a freight terminal are now present at the Bandaranayake International Airport.

With 12 gates, Terminal 1 is the oldest terminal. The arrival and departure gates are separated horizontally within the large terminal. The terminal consists of the main terminal building, which is linked to a single entry where all the gates are located. Major foreign flights depart from this terminal because terminal 2 won’t be ready until 2019.

There are two lounges: the Palm Spirit lounge and the Serendib lounge of Sri Lankan Airlines. There is a cafeteria, a smoking area, tea shops, many duty-free shops, a day room, and showers at the airport. 2019 is the planned opening year for Terminal 2, which will have a total of 8 gates. With new boarding gates and passenger boarding bridges, a new phase II expansion project has started. Domestic flights are mostly handled by Terminal 3’s arrival and departure gates.

The government of Sri Lanka also has plans to build a second runway and undertake numerous additional expansion projects in the future. Indigo, Air China, Aeroflot, Air India, Air Arabia, Edelweiss Air, and many other airlines currently operate flights out of the airport. The Bandaranaike International Airport’s airport code is CMB, and it is managed by Airport and Aviation Services Ltd.

During the Second World War, the airport first saw use in 1944 as a Royal Air Force airstrip. The Royal Ceylon Air Force was given control of all British military airfields in 1957, and Katunayake Airport was given the new name. The name Katunayake is still used by the people.

The military has long had a presence at the airport. Here, Air Ceylon, today better renowned as Sri Lanka Airlines, started operating internationally. In 1970, the airport’s name was changed to honor Prime Minister SWRD Bandaranayake.

02) Ratmalana Airport

The Ratmalana Airport is around 15 kilometers south of Colombo, the country’s capital. The primary domestic airport serving the nation’s capital, Ratmalana Airport, is thought to be the sole international airport in existence. The airport currently plays host to many domestic flights and businesses that provide aviation training.

The Ratmalana airport has two active terminals. Domestic and international business flights are handled by terminal one, and regional operations are handled by terminal two. The airport offers services like immigration, a VIP lounge, ground handling, and passenger and baggage screening in accordance with ICAO standards. Air Senok, FitsAir, Helitours, and Millennium Airlines now provide flights out of Ratmalana airport.

In 1934, Ratmalana was selected as the ideal location to build an airstrip to service the main city. The Bandaranaike airport was founded to relieve some of the pressure on the only international airport, and the Ratmalana airport has a rich history of World War II and civilian services.

International aircraft began to depart from the recently constructed Bandaranaike airport in 1967. Ratmalana Airport, however, has since reopened and now serves both domestic flights exclusively and some foreign flights. Additionally open for use are charter flights and commercial jet operations at this particular airport in Sri Lanka.

03) Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport

The country’s southern province is served by the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport, a significant international airport. The settlement of Mattala, which is 18 km from Hambantota, is where the airport is located.

One terminal at the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport can handle roughly 1 million passengers annually. It features two gates and 12 check-in counters. The terminal contains a medical facility, dining options, and a lounge designed exclusively for travelers traveling in business class. The airport’s runway may extend up to 11,483 feet (3,500m). FitsAir is the current cargo airline operating within the airport, while Cinnamon Air is one of the domestic airlines currently in operation there. The Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport’s airport code is HRI.

The airport was the first to be noted for its “greenfield” characteristics, such as the custom of starting the design and construction processes from scratch. After Bandaranaike Airport, it is the second operational international airport.

Mahinda Rajapaksa, the president in office at the time and the one who oversaw the airport’s development, inaugurated it in 2013. The Mattala Rajapaksa airport in Sri Lanka was opened as a result of traffic at the Bandaranaike airport and to boost domestic tourism. The airport used to serve as a hub for a number of foreign airlines, including Sri Lankan Airlines. The decline in demand, however, resulted in the cancellation of numerous airlines.

04) Anuradhapura Airport

One of the main local airports in the important city of Anuradhapura, which is located in the Northern Province, is the Anuradhapura Airport. The town, which serves as the capital of the Northern Province, is well-known for its historic temples that tell the history of Sri Lankan civilisation. Additionally a military installation, the airport is frequently referred to as Sri Lanka Air Force Base Anuradhapura. Helitours, FitsAir, Air Senok and Millennium Airlines are the current airlines using the airport. Anuradhapura Airport, a functioning domestic airport, is a well-known regional airport in Sri Lanka.

05) Sigiriya Airport (Dambulla)

During the World War II crisis, the Royal Air Force established Sigiriya Airport as an airbase. Currently, the Sigiriya airport serves as a government-owned domestic airport as well as an air force facility. The airport’s history dates back to World War I, and it was shut down following that conflict. The airbase was reopened in 1985 thanks to an invitation from Air Marshal Donald Perera, Commander of the Air Force.

From the airport, flights are now being operated by FitsAir, Cinnamon Air (Sri Lankan Airlines), Air Senok, Helitours and Millennium Airlines. If visiting the Dambulla cave shrine first, this little base in Sri Lanka is popular and ideal for touring.

06) Koggala Airport (Galle)

The Royal Air Force also had an air force base at the Koggala Airport. The airport is now used for domestic flights and military flights. The history of Koggala Airport is extensive and honors its involvement in World War II. Seaplanes used to land at the airstrip near Koggala Lake prior to World War II. The Koggala airport will be upgraded into an international airport as part of ongoing government plans, for which a feasibility study has already been completed. Nearly 15 kilometers separate the Sri Lankan city of Galle from the Koggala airport.

Sri Lanka has nine provinces, thus it stands to reason that the nation needs that many airports for both the convenience of travelers and residents. Ampara, Batticaloa, and China Bay Airport (Trincomalee), which are all domestic airports in Sri Lanka, are a few more. These are all located in the Eastern Province. Within the Northern Province are Jaffna, Iranamadu, Hingurakgoda, Palavi, and Vavuniya Airport. In the Central Province, work is being done on the Kandy Airport.

07) Jaffna International Airport 

International airport servicing northern Sri Lanka was formerly known as Jaffna Airport and Palaly Airport. Sri Lanka Air Force Palaly, often known as SLAF Palaly, is a military airfield. The airport is situated 7 nautical miles north of Jaffna in the village of Palaly, close to the town of Kankesanthurai. It has one runway, numbered 05/23, with an asphalt surface measuring 1,400 by 30 meters (4,593 ft 98 ft), and it is located at a height of 10 meters (34 feet).

Originally constructed by the Royal Air Force during World War II, the airport served as the nation’s second international airport following that. During the Sri Lankan Civil War, the Sri Lanka Air Force took control of it. Midway through the 1990s, domestic civil aviation was restarted, and it eventually became Sri Lanka’s third international airport in 2019.

08) Batticaloa International Airport

Geographically speaking, Batticaloa International Airport is situated 2.4 kilometers southeast of the city, waking up Sri Lanka’s eastern coast. Domestic travelers could enjoy exceptional service with a Sri Lankan grin and hassle-free entry into the airport building.

The magnificent lagoons, golden beaches, and numerous other historical sites surround the Batticaloa International Airport. The discerning tourist can take a leisurely drive down the coast, go windsurfing, or take a long walk to decompress on the beautiful, sun-kissed beaches. All domestic airports in the nation are connected to the Batticaloa International Airport. The Hon. Nimal Siripala de Silva (M.P. ), Minister of Civil Aviation and Transport, proclaimed the Batticaloa International Airport, the new Gateway to Eastern Sri Lanka, reopened for civil operations on March 25, 2018.

The fourth airport to fall under the purview of the Airport and Aviation Services of (Sri Lanka) limited is Batticaloa International Airport, which is connected to all domestic airports in the nation.

A new runway lighting system and a new passenger terminal building were erected at the Batticaloa International Airport, which features a 1,066-meter-long and 46-meter-wide runway, for a cost of Rs. 1,400 million. The airport is anticipated to be crucial in developing tourism in Sri Lanka’s Eastern area.

09) Weerawila Airport

A minor airport may be found near Weerawila, Sri Lanka. One runway serves the airport. Katukurunda Air Force Base, Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport, Ampara Airport, and Colombo Ratmalana Airport, Koggala Airport, are more nearby airports.

Weerawila Airport does not publish a METAR; the 13 km away Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport is the closest weather station. Colombo is the location for flight information.

10) Vavuniya Airport

An air force base and domestic airport may be found in Vavuniya, which is in northern Sri Lanka. The airport, commonly known as SLAF Vavuniya, is situated about 0.87 miles south of Vavuniya’s city center. The Sri Lanka Air Force took control of it in 1978 after it was initially constructed by the Royal Air Force during World War II.

11) Katukurunda Airport

Near the town of Kalutara in Sri Lanka, there is a base for the Sri Lanka Air Force called SLAF Katukurunda. Originally founded as a Royal Naval Air Station HMS Ukussa it was revived in 1984 by the Sri Lanka Air Force. Numerous motor races are held there with the agreement of the Sports Ministry and in collaboration with the Air Force Sports Board.

At its height, the greatest Royal Naval Air Station, established in 1944 by the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy, employed 300 officers, 3000 sailors, and 100 women from the Women’s Royal Naval Service. At any given time, it maintained an airplane repair yard while servicing more than 100 aircraft. However, this airfield currently has flight training facilities for a small number of nearby civil flying schools.

12) Iranamadu Airport

Kilinochchi, Sri Lanka’s smallest airport is called Iranamadu Airport. The runway at the airport is 5/23. Vavuniya Airport, Jaffna International Airport, Anuradhapura Airport, China Bay Airport, and Hingurakgoda Air Force Base are among of the nearby airfields.

Iranamadu Airport does not publish a METAR; Tiruchirappalli International Airport, which is 253 kilometers away, is the closest weather station.

Find more details on: www.airforce.lk, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_airports_in_Sri_Lanka, www.airport.lk