Sri Lanka’s main seaplane landing airport opens

Economic Develop-ment Minister Basil Rajapaksa yesterday commissioned the float aerodrome and air corridor at Dandugam Oya, Ja-Ela further boosting tourism and providing a solution to frequent flood threats to the area.

The Minister said that this would open a new chapter in the country’s tourism with the Sri Lankan Airlines air taxi service operating from the scenic surroundings at Dandugam Oya, Seeduwa thereby helping infrastructure development in the Katana and Ja-ela electorates for the benefit of people there. It would also open for them new employment opportunities, according to the minister.

He was addressing the meeting held in connection with the commissioning of the float plane aerodrome and the air corridor. Among those present were Civil Aviation Minister Priyankara Jayaratna, Social Services Minister Felix Perera and Gampaha District Parliamentarian Suda-rshani Fernandopulle.

A special event at this meeting was Minister Rajapaksa and other invitees being received by  Negombo Lagoon Managing Committee Chairman Ranjit Fernando and Secretary Nimal Viani Rodrigo who earlier organized a massive protest at the Negombo town against the construction of the float plane aerodrome at the Negombo Lagoon. They welcomed the construction of the aerodrome and expressed their appreciation by handing over to Minister Rajapaksa a present to be given to the President.    

The Minister said that the aerodrome would not only boost tourism but would also make a major contribution to the country’s socio-economic progress. He also said a year ago it was proposed to construct the aerodrome at Negombo Lagoon.  

But taking into account the requests the fishing community made to the President he found an alternative location for the project since it is the duty of a people’s government to pay heed to public requests.   Consequently the work was completed within a year. Various problems are not uncommon when developing a country, the minister noted.  Consequently people are sometimes compelled to make sacrifices.

From the float plane aerodrome Katunayake, Sri Lankan Airlines will operate domestic flights to approximately 14 destinations within a very short period. It would hugely benefit both international and local travellers. This will also provide the opportunity to make the area a centre for establishing small and medium scale industries for the benefit of the people of the area which is near the Katana and Ja-ela electorates.  Minister Rajapaksa expressed his gratitude to the Western Province Road Development Authority and Provincial Council Minister Nimal Lansa.  

The Minister added that they were taking great effort to protect the area’s natural environment and said the Thekka Gusela canal repair project and the program for cleaning the Muthurajawela canals had already commenced.

Welcoming the invitees Civil Aviation Minister Priyankara Jayaratna said that the air base has three docking bays, rest rooms, ample parking space for over 30 vehicles and a long timber pier overlooking the lake and fishing village. He further said travelling by float planes reduces travel time by more than 85 percent and gives a better opportunity to see most attractive scenic spots in the country.

Sri Lankan Airlines Chairman Nishantha Wickremasinghe, Chief Executive officer Kapila Chandrasena, Social Services Minister Felix Perera and Parliamentarian Sudarshani Fernandopulle were among the others who spoke. Also present were Western Provincial Council Minister Nimal Lansa, Deputy Minister Duleep Wijesekera and Parliamentarian Ruwan Ranatunga,

The designing and construction of the aerodrome was done by the Provincial RDA.  Thirty school children from the area were taken on a air tour of scenic spots in the country as part of the program.