Ratmalana Airport
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Ratmalana Airport කොළඹ ගුවන්තොටුපළ රත්මලාන கொழும்பு விமான நிலையம் இரத்மலானை |
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| Summary | |||||||||||
| Airport type | Public / Military | ||||||||||
| Owner | Government of Sri Lanka | ||||||||||
| Operator | AASL | ||||||||||
| Serves | Colombo | ||||||||||
| Location | Ratmalana, Sri Lanka | ||||||||||
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| Elevation AMSL | 16 ft / 5 m | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 6°49′19.18″N 79°53′10.35″E / 6.8219944°N 79.8862083°ECoordinates: 6°49′19.18″N 79°53′10.35″E / 6.8219944°N 79.8862083°E | ||||||||||
| Website | http://www.airport.lk/rma | ||||||||||
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 RML
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Ratmalana Airport (IATA: RML, ICAO: VCCC), is the first International Airport in Sri Lanka. Colombo Airport Ratmalana was the only international airport in Sri Lanka until the inauguration of Bandaranaike International Airport, Katunayake in 1967. This is a Civil Airport which is operating as the domestic aviation hub and the aviation training hub in Sri Lanka. There are 11 domestic airlines based at Ratmalana with hangar facilities and operating scheduled and charter passenger operations. The aerodrome is also used to train all aviation students in Sri Lanka since 1960s.
From August 2012, Colombo Airport Ratmalana declared to handle international corporate jets to provide more efficient and exclusive passenger experience. Therefore, this airport is currently operate international corporate jets in addition to domestic civil flights and training flights. Though this airport started in the year 1935, at present it is having more pleasant appearance with modernised terminal building with exclusive lounges, all services including customs, immigration and emigration and more professional & friendly staff. Airport & Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Limited is the airport operator of this airport.
The airport is located 15 km south of the Colombo City.
In 1934 the State Council of Ceylon made a decision to construct an aerodrome within reach of the capital city of Colombo and decided on Ratmalana as the best site. On 27 November 1935 a De Havilland Puss Moth flown by Tyndalle Bisco, Chief flying instructor of the Madras Flying Club, was the first aircraft to land at the new airport.
During the Second World War it was used as a Royal Air Force airfield, with No 30 Squadron flying Hawker Hurricanes from there against Japanese Navy aircraft. QEA flew civilianised Consolidated B-24 Liberator and Avro Lancastrian aeroplanes there from Perth, Western Australia, on what was at the time the world's longest non-stop air route. The flight continued after the war with an intermediate re-fuelling stop at the Cocos Islands.
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Wikipedia