Government has decided to develop the Palaviya Airport by adding a land of 26 hectares at an estimated cost of Rs. 750 million.
The Cabinet of Ministers made the decision following a proposal made by Transport Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva seeking to establish a domestic aviation system as vital for the country that combines the whole country with the international airports.
In addition to international airports in Katunayake and Mattala, there are 14 domestic airports in various extents covering seven out of nine provinces in Ampara, Anuradhapura, Batticaloa, Hingurakgoda, Palali, Iranamadu, Koggala, Katukurunda, Palaviya, Ratmalana, Sigiriya, Trincomalee, Weerawila and Vavuniya.
Budget 2016 had proposed to establish three domestic airports in Badulla, Kandy and Puttalam Districts with public-private partnership to promote tourism in these districts.