First test flight successfully lands in Mattala

The first test flight on the new airstrip at Sri Lanka’s second international airport at Mattala landed safely yesterday. The airport construction project is on a 2,000 hectare bare land at Mattala in the Hambantota District at a cost of US$ 200 million. The project was launched by President Mahinda Rajapaksa on 27 November 2009.

The Super King 20 Test Aircraft, which belongs to the Pakistan Civil Aviation Department and features a dual engine, landed on the new runway.

“It was highly successful as the aircraft was equipped to test all new installations. It carried out the necessary tests of all the equipment and reported they were in order,” said Airport Aviation Authority Chairman Prasanna Wickremasuriya.

This dual engine test aircraft, called a Beach aircraft, was piloted by a Pakistani pilot at its preliminary landing. “They will continue their test landing and other logistics checking continuously for a week,” added Wickremasuriya.

Construction work of the Mattala International Airport is being handled by a Chinese firm while the testing of the equipment is being carried out by the Pakistani Civil Aviation Authority.

Since Sri Lanka has only one international airport, the need for an alternative international airport was felt recently, and President Mahinda Rajapaksa with the assistance of the Chinese Government commenced this project.

Wickramasuriya, describing the Pakistani involvement, said that Pakistan was the best option with expertise to handle such operations in the region.