The government has announced plans to gradually develop the Jaffna International Airport into a fully operational international gateway.
Addressing the second phase of the development, Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation Bimal Ratnayake emphasized the need to upgrade infrastructure to accommodate narrow-body aircraft such as the Airbus A320.
Planned improvements include upgrades to the runway, taxiways, aircraft parking facilities, and passenger terminals.
The Minister further noted that while the existing land is considered adequate for the expansion, additional land acquisition may be explored if required.
Highlighting the importance of careful planning, Minister Ratnayake stressed that a detailed feasibility study must be completed before moving forward.
“We are committed to developing Jaffna Airport into a true international gateway, but it must be done with a strong business plan. We thank the Government of India for their support, including the deployment of two IndiGo flights. However, this must be commercially viable,” he said.
Drawing a comparison with the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport, the Minister cautioned against pursuing large-scale development projects without a clear business model, warning that such ventures risk becoming underutilized.
He also confirmed that tenders for the expansion of the passenger terminal are scheduled to be launched within the next month.
