The Hon. Sivagnanam Shritharan

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, under Standing Order 27(2), I wish to ask questions from the Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation and Leader of the House, Hon. Bimal Rathnayake.

¶ 02 Jaffna/Palaly International Airport, developed initially by the British Air Force during World War II as Sri Lanka’s second international airport, is a historical symbol for the North and East. Air Ceylon’s first flight from Ratmalana to Chennai operated via this airport. Subsequently, flights operated between Palaly and South Indian cities (Chennai, Tiruchi, Madurai) and Colombo. Passenger services were constrained during wartime. Post-war, with Indian financial support, Phase I redevelopment enabled reactivation. If the current runway is extended by another kilometre, aircraft such as the A-320 with at least 180 seats can land directly, boosting diaspora and foreign tourist arrivals via this airport. Larger aircraft would also allow baggage allowances to increase from 15 kg to 30 kg, making Palaly the preferred entry point to the North and East, enhancing tourism to historic temples in the East and boosting national income.

¶ 03 Accordingly: 01. Will the Minister state the reasons for the delay in Phase II? 02. Does the Government have plans to expand services to increase arrivals of diaspora and foreign tourists? 03. During the Minister’s visit on 30.03.2025 he assured that rehabilitation would be completed within six months. Five months have passed; why has no tangible progress occurred? 04. India funded Phase I. How much funding did India provide? What is the funding requirement for Phase II? What constraints exist in obtaining Indian funding? 05. If no constraints exist, when will Phase II commence and be completed? 06. Have compensations been paid to landowners of lands acquired for expansion? If so, how many and how much? How many remain unpaid and why?