Sri Lanka’s historic Ratmalana Airport, once the pride of South Asian aviation, is facing a turbulent future as aviation experts warn that poor planning, bureaucratic neglect, and decades of uncoordinated development have pushed the country’s first airfield to the brink of operational obsolescence.
Former President of the Aircraft Owners and Operators Association, Capt. G.A. Fernando (MBA, UK), in a detailed investigative commentary, paints a stark picture of how a combination of political decisions and administrative oversight has crippled Ratmalana’s potential despite its unmatched historical significance and strategic location.
Opened in 1935, Ratmalana served as Ceylon’s main international airport until 1968, when global operations shifted to Katunayake. Once a vital Royal Air Force base during World War II, it has since suffered from neglect, with outdated navigational systems, inadequate runway lighting, and failing radio aids. Pilots, at one point, were forced to rely on the burning gas flare at the Sapugaskanda Refinery for night-time navigation an alarming indication of how far standards had slipped.
Capt. Fernando argues that successive governments have failed to implement a national master plan for aviation, allowing politically driven decisions and fragmented planning to dictate development. He points out that the 1977 decision to relocate Parliament to Sri Jayewardenepura, just 3.6 nautical miles from the runway, led to flight path restrictions that severely limited Ratmalana’s operational capacity. “It was like building a house next to a railway and then complaining about the noise,” he remarked, criticizing policymakers for imposing bans on overflight routes critical for safe landings.
Further complications arose with unplanned urban and defence constructions obstructing key approach paths. The Akuregoda Defence Headquarters, situated 4.4 nautical miles from the airport, blocks a straight-in approach needed for modern jet operations, while the Kotelawala Defence University building exceeds permitted height limits, creating serious safety hazards. “These are examples of uncoordinated decisions that make redevelopment nearly impossible,” Fernando warned.
He also revealed that Ratmalana still lacks a fully functional control tower with 360-degree visibility, proper radio beacons, or a modern instrument landing system (ILS)—basic requirements for international-standard operations. Ironically, the Air Force Museum building itself interferes with aviation radio frequencies, adding to the chaos.
Although the government recently approved Rs. 3 billion for upgrades, Fernando questions whether the funds are being used for genuine safety improvements or merely for cosmetic structures. “We must invest in what cannot be seen as navigation aids, airspace management, and communication systems because those determine safety,” he emphasized.
Drawing parallels with Wellington Airport in New Zealand, where a control tower was innovatively built atop a shopping complex, Fernando urged policymakers to adopt “out-of-the-box thinking” and seek professional input.
“Sri Lanka suffers from tunnel vision in aviation planning,” he concluded. “Unless accountability, coordination, and technical expertise drive decisions, Ratmalana’s revival will remain a dream trapped in bureaucratic fog.”
