Right of Reply on Colombo Airport – Ratmalana: Airport and Aviation Services

With reference to the column titled “The case for Colombo Airport – Ratmalana” published in the Daily FT on 4 April (https://www.ft.lk/columns/The-case-for-Colombo-Airport-Ratmalana/4-732958), the Airport and Aviation Services Ltd., has sent the following statement. 

It is incorrect to say that most modern radar systems are needed at Colombo International Airport Ratmalana (CIAR) since the radar overages provided by secondary radar systems at BIA and Pidurutalagala supplemented by automatic dependent surveillance – broadcast (ADS-B) would provide sufficient surveillance coverage for approaching aircraft at CIAR given the current and medium term air traffic densities. 

It is also factually incorrect to say that the ILS was removed from CIAR and relocated at MRIA. CIAR never had an ILS since its inception and a brand new ILS was installed at MRIA when the airport was constructed together with other navigational aids. 

The need of a precision landing aid such as an ILS has been considered well before declaring the Colombo Airport for international operations, however, the preliminary studies conducted revealed that it would not be feasible to operate an ILS for RWY22 landings (mostly used RWY during the year) due to insufficient clearances available at 04 end of the RWY for the proper operation of localiser.