Ratmalana Airport, first international airport in Sri Lanka

Colombo International Airport, Ratmalana (CIAR) is the first international airport in Sri Lanka, established in 1935. CIAR is managed and operated by Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd. (AASL). 

The nation’s civil aviation industry emerged in the 1930s and the ceremonial opening of the Colombo International Airport was held on 28 February 1938 by Governor Sir Andrew Caldecott with the launch of the Air Mail service between Colombo and Mumbai using the Mail Room at Ratmalana Aerodrome. During World War in 1940s, the development and expansion of runway facilities were done under British rule. In 1947, international flights were operated by the country’s first national carrier – Air Ceylon, and later with the popularity of the international aviation industry, operations were shifted to the new airport at Katunayake from 1968. Ever since its establishment, the airport has been playing a pivotal role in the aviation industry of Sri Lanka as an exclusive gateway to Colombo, the Commercial Capital of Sri Lanka, and served as the domestic aviation hub of the country.

In 2012, AASL declared Colombo Airport Ratmalana as a city airport allowing it to accommodate international corporate jet operations in addition to its main forte of domestic schedule/charter flights and the main training domain for the whole arrays of aviators ranging from pilots, flight dispatchers to aeronautical engineers.