The transformation of the Hingurakgoda runway is making significant progress as it is being upgraded to meet international standards, enabling operations of widely utilized A320 and Boeing 737 aircraft.
After extensive consultations with key stakeholders, the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) was assigned to oversee the design and construction of the project. The Road Development Authority (RDA) has been tasked with reviewing the designs and offering consultations, while the Civil Aviation Authority and Airports and Aviation Sri Lanka provide essential guidelines and regulatory frameworks under a Cabinet memorandum.
The project, officially launched on August 19, 2024, by the SLAF’s Special Project Management Unit, is structured into four phases. The first phase focuses on the construction of the main runway, divided into seven stages. Initial funding has already facilitated the completion of stages one and two, achieving an asphalt binder course for 850 metres of the planned 2,500-metre runway.
In preparation for the next stages, the RDA consultant team recommended a test landing on the completed section of the runway. On Monday (13), a Y-12 aircraft, piloted by Air Force Commander Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa, successfully performed the test landing, marking a major milestone in the project.
The event was attended by Air Vice Marshal Sumedha Silva, Director of the Special Project Management Unit, and Air Commodore Dinesh Jayaweera, Base Commander of SLAF Hingurakgoda.
Construction on the next stage, extending the runway by an additional 850 metres, is set to begin today (15), further advancing the transformation to make Hingurakgoda a key aviation hub capable of accommodating modern aircraft.
