Five domestic airports located in tourism areas will be upgraded with the aim of boosting local and foreign tourism.  Accordingly, the government is focusing on upgrading Sigiriya, Koggala, Ampara, Anuradhapura and Hingurakgoda domestic airports on a priority basis, said the Minister of Tourism, Hon. Prasanna Ranatunga.

At present, there are 10 domestic airstrips in the country and they are under the control of the Sri Lanka Air Force.  Those airports are Sigiriya, Koggala, Ampara, Anuradhapura, Hingurakgoda, Katukurunda, Trincomalee, Vavuniya, Weerawila and Puttalam.  In addition, the Ratmalana, Jaffna and Batticaloa airports are maintained as international airports as well as domestic airports under the Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd.

Sigiriya is a tourist destination that has attracted a large number of local and foreign tourists.  It is expected that many local and foreign tourists will benefit from the development of the Sigiriya Domestic Airport.  The Koggala Domestic Airport is located close to the Mirissa beach which is famous for whale watching. The Ampara Domestic Airport is located close to the East Coast of the country, and Anuradhapura Airport is developed to attract local and foreign tourist to the Old Kingdoms of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa.

Proposals have also been made for the construction of three new domestic airports at Nuwara Eliya, Digana and Bandarawela and further action in this regard is in progress.  Construction of the Domestic Airport in Bandarawela is a National Budget Proposal in 2016.  Construction of a domestic airport in Nuwara-Eliya area is also mentioned in H.E, the President, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa's Vistas of Prosperity, the National Policy Statement.  Accordingly, the area around the Sita-Eliya Potato Seed Farm, Sadathenna and the area close to the Gregory Lake was inspected for this purpose but it has been confirmed that the relevant sites are not suitable for the construction of a domestic airport.  Accordingly, a proposal has been submitted regarding another place in the area and a feasibility study is expected to be carried out on that place, the Minister said. 

In the wake of the Covid pandemic, there has been a lot of focus on revitalizing the tourism industry in Sri Lanka, building tourism infrastructure as well as new strategies to attract tourists.  Accordingly, attention has been paid to upgrade these domestic airports, the Minister said.