Minister of megapolis and Western Province Development, Patalee Champika Ranawaka said the Katunayake airport will be expanded from the 18th km post up to Minuwangoda for all aviation purposes and that the Ratmalana airport, used at present for internal aviation is to be closed under the proposed megapolis development programme.

Addressing a meeting to create awareness on development projects for the Gampaha district under the 15-year megapolis plan, he said 19 local authorities in 13 divisions in the district would be developed from the grassroots level. He said the Urban Development Authority had already drawn up the preliminary plans for the proposed projects.

“Ratmalana airport will be closed and the Katunayake airport will be used for both international and internal aviation. With this in view, the Katunayake airport will be given two runways. Gampaha and Kadawatha will be developed as Administrative Centres in the district and Meerigama town for export infrastructure facilities. The Tourism industry in Negombo will be improved with enhanced infrastructure and Jaela and Kiribathgoda as residential areas with schools and hospitals complete with modern facilities” he said.

Minster Ranawaka further pointed out that the megapolis programme would be the largest ever development programme undertaken after the Mahaweli project. He added that the views of the public and public representatives would be taken into consideration for this massive programme which will be inaugurated next year.

State Minister of Defence Ruwan Wijewardene, Deputy Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna, Gampaha district parliamentarians and Senior officials including Government Agent Sunil Jayalath and District Planning Director Gamini Wickremapala were present at the occasion.

Source: Daily Mirror - Sri Lanka