Palali renamed as Jaffna Intl Airport, bringing total number of Intl. Airports in SL to 5

Palali Airport in Jaffna has been renamed as the Jaffna International Airport making it the third international airport in Sri Lanka and bringing the total number of international airports in the country to five.

According to a statement released by the Ministry of Transport, parallel to this renaming, the Batticaloa airport will be renamed as the Batticaloa International Airport and the Ratmalana airport as the Colombo Ratmalana International Airport.

With the renaming of Palali Airport as the Jaffna International Aiport, the total number of international airports in the country will increase to five.

Mainly the Colombo Katunayake International Airport, Colombo Ratmalana International Airport, Jaffna International Airport, Batticaloa International Airport and the Mattala International Airport.

The International Civil Aviation Organisation indicator code (ICAO CODE) and the  International Air Transport Association (IATA) station code for the above International Airports will be as follows: 

Jaffna International airport:
ICAO CODE : VCCJ
IATA station code: JAF

Batticaloa International Airport:
ICAO : VCCB 
IATA station code : BTC

Colombo Ratmalana International airport
ICAO :VCCC 
IATA station code : RML

Following Cabinet approval to a proposal by Transport Minister Arjuna Ranatunga to development the Palaly Airport in Jaffna into a regional and international airport, work began on July 5 this year.

The development work is scheduled to be concluded by October 10.

The opening of the airport for international flights is scheduled to be inaugurated on  October 17 under the auspices of President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.