July 04, Colombo: The construction of the runway of Sri Lanka's second International Airport at Mattala in the Hambantota District in the South has been completed, the government said Monday.
The runway with a length of 4,000 meters and a width of 75 meters has all necessary facilities to land the largest aircraft available at present such as Airbus A-380. The Taxi route to the runway is 370 meters long and 60 meters wide.
The foundation for the construction of main passenger terminal with state-of-the-art facilities that can accommodate 10,000 passengers was laid in April.
The government plans to complete all basic facilities and requirements including the runway, taxiways and parking facilities for 10 aircrafts in the first phase at a total cost of US$ 210 million with the financial assistance from the Chinese government.
The airport is being built on a 2,000 hectare land according to recommendations of the International Civil Aviation Organization. The 1,000-sq. meter cargo facility which is also nearing completion will have the capacity of handling 45,000 metric tons of cargo per year.
The first aircraft is expected to land at the new international airport by the end of 2012
Mattala International Airport is one of the largest development projects that is undertaken by the government.
According to the government, when completed, the new airport, alternative to the Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake, will support both international and domestic travel and air-sea cargo transshipment in conjunction with the Hambantota Harbor.
