CIAL delegation visits Weerawila

A high level delegation from the Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL), headed by managing director, S. Bharath, is currently in Colombo to explore the possibility of setting up a Greenfield airport at Weerawila on the same model as the CIAL airport.

The delegation has arrived in the island on the invitation of the Government of Sri Lanka and has already held discussions with President Mahinda Rajapaksa, as well Minister for Ports and Aviation.

At their meeting with the Sri Lankan president, CIAL managing director S Bharath provided a detailed presentation on the economic model adopted by CIAL in the development of an aerotropolis around the airport, which has allowed it become self-sustainable.

The CIAL delegation also made an onsite visit to Weerawila to study the local conditions and also discuss technical and feasibility aspects. The proposed airport site is 15 km away from Hambantota.

The Government is currently developing a big port and a huge container terminal station at Hambantota in collaboration with the Govt of China and the Port Authority of China.

These infrastructure developments are expected to act as a fillip for the development of the airport at Weerawila.

The minister for ports and aviation informed the CIAL delegation that a delegation of senior officials from the Sri Lankan Govt and the Airport Authority of Sri Lanka would visit CIAL within a few months to study the facilities there and to hold further discussions in the matter.

The CIAL delegation returns to India today.