IANS | 25 Jun, 2024
Sri Lankan cabinet approved a proposal to make preparations to develop
the Hingurakgoda airport in the North Central Province as a complete airport
for civilian use, the government's information department said on Tuesday.
The department said that President Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his capacity
as the minister of defence and Minister of Ports, Shipping and Aviation Nimal
Siripala de Silva, submitted the proposal earlier, Xinhua news agency reported.
Currently, under the management of the Sri Lanka Air Force, the
Hingurakgoda airport is set to be developed in accordance with international
civil aviation standards. A committee has been appointed for the preparation of
the master plan for the airport and other related tasks, according to the
department.
The Hingurakgoda airport was originally known as Royal Air Force
Minneriya airport, which can be dated back to World War II, serving as a base
for the British Royal Air Force. Since then, it has been used as a military
airbase.