By Yohan Perera   

Chief Government Whip and Highways Minister Johnston Fernando has instructed the Director General of the Road Development Authority to complete upgrading the access road to the Ratmalana airport within 20 days, a statement from the ministry said.

The ministry said Minister Fernando issued the order to develop the airport access road following a request by Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga and Civil Aviation State Minister DV Chanaka who had pointed out to the minister that following the reopening of the country the number of tourists and tourism related movements have increased and the need has arisen to make use of the Ratmalana airport to its fullest capacity. The Ratmalana airport is currently operated as a domestic airport and used by both local and foreign tourists and the Air Force. The stretch of road to be upgraded is 1.6 km in length. The road would be upgraded at a cost of Rs 99.3 million. A sum of Rs 20.4 million would be spent for the development of walking paths besides the road and Rs 24.8 million to set up street lights, according to the minister. 

• The upgrading of the road together with setting up of street lights and walking paths has been estimated to cost Rs 99.3 million