UPGRADING OF HINGURAKGODA RUNWAY TO CIVIL AVIATION STANDARDS
8:56pm on Thursday 4th April 2024
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Aviation, together with the Sri Lanka Air Force and the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka, has embarked on plans to enhance the infrastructure of Hingurakgoda Airport to meet civil aviation standards. A conference and field visit were conducted at Sri Lanka Air Force Base Hingurakgoda today (04 April 2024), in the presence of the Minister of Ports, Shipping and Aviation, Hon. Nimal Siripala de Silva, Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa, Director General Civil Aviation and Chief Executive Officer, Air Vice Marshal Sagara Kotekadeniya (Retd) and other distinguished government and Air Force stakeholders.
In the initial phase of development, which is scheduled for completion by December of this year, the primary focus will be on extending the existing runway. Currently, the runway spans 2300 meters in length and 46 meters in width. The proposed expansion aims to increase the total length of the runway to 2500 meters. This augmentation is intended to accommodate larger aircraft, including the widely utilized Airbus A320 model.
The development project will be executed in three phases. The second phase involves the construction of a Drainage System, while the third phase entails the construction of a New Apron. The design of the runway has been formulated by the Sri Lanka Air Force in accordance with international standards and will undergo review by the Road Development Authority. Importantly, this runway expansion will be executed within the perimeter of the SLAF Base Hingurakgoda without demanding additional land acquisition.
The workforce for this project will be provided by skilled SLAF Airmen from the Air Field Constructions Wing at SLAF Base Ratmalana. The entire project will be coordinated by the Project Coordinator, Air Vice Marshal Sumedha Silva, while overseen by Director General of Construction Engineering of the SLAF, Air Vice Marshal Chandana Geethapriya.
This initiative signifies an important step towards enhancing the capabilities and infrastructure of Hingurakgoda Airport, thereby contributing to the advancement of civil aviation in Sri Lanka.
In the initial phase of development, which is scheduled for completion by December of this year, the primary focus will be on extending the existing runway. Currently, the runway spans 2300 meters in length and 46 meters in width. The proposed expansion aims to increase the total length of the runway to 2500 meters. This augmentation is intended to accommodate larger aircraft, including the widely utilized Airbus A320 model.
The development project will be executed in three phases. The second phase involves the construction of a Drainage System, while the third phase entails the construction of a New Apron. The design of the runway has been formulated by the Sri Lanka Air Force in accordance with international standards and will undergo review by the Road Development Authority. Importantly, this runway expansion will be executed within the perimeter of the SLAF Base Hingurakgoda without demanding additional land acquisition.
The workforce for this project will be provided by skilled SLAF Airmen from the Air Field Constructions Wing at SLAF Base Ratmalana. The entire project will be coordinated by the Project Coordinator, Air Vice Marshal Sumedha Silva, while overseen by Director General of Construction Engineering of the SLAF, Air Vice Marshal Chandana Geethapriya.
This initiative signifies an important step towards enhancing the capabilities and infrastructure of Hingurakgoda Airport, thereby contributing to the advancement of civil aviation in Sri Lanka.
