The Hingurakgoda Airport's transformation into an international civil airport has begun, with the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) undertaking the extension of its runway, according to the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Aviation.
Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, said that the preliminary work for this development is already underway, led by the SLAF.
However, he refrained from providing a specific timeline for completing the transformation, citing it as premature to do so.
De Silva also mentioned that a feasibility study, conducted by Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd. (AASL), has been completed, although he did not disclose its contents.
The Government's decision to upgrade the Hingurakgoda Airport was announced last year, aiming to facilitate visits to key tourist destinations like Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura, Sigiriya, and Dambulla.
As part of this upgrade, plans include extending the runway to accommodate A330 aircraft, constructing an access way, setting up an air navigation system, and building an Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower and a passenger terminal. President Ranil Wickremesinghe, during the 2024 Budget speech, allocated Rs. 2 billion for this project.
