By Deepa Adhikari

The Ratmalana airport is to be converted into a city airport which would provide services to foreign private jets and small aircraft, Airport and Aviation Service Chairman Prasanna Wickremesuriya said today.

He said with this development the aviation services provided by the country would receive a boost bringing in further revenue and foreign exchange.

He said the number of private jets coming to the country had increased by 30 percent and therefore the initial work to convert the Ratmalana airport into a city airport had already begun. He said internal air services within the country would also be further improved.

The Ratmalana airport was the first international airport in the country and functioned in that capacity till the 1960s. During the conflict period, the Ratmalana airport functioned as the main Air Force transit facility.  

Airport and Aviation Services Chairman Prasanna Wickremesuriya, Civil Aviation Minister Priyankara Jayaratne and Secretary Civil Aviation Ministry Ranjith Silva recently inspected the Ratmalana Airport and observed the development work which is underway.