  
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has instructed officials to accelerate the completion of key infrastructure projects aimed at expanding passenger capacity and enhancing facilities at Katunayake International Airport. The directive also mandates the parallel development of domestic airports nationwide to effectively accommodate future aviation demands.
Speaking during a review of the 2027 Budget proposals for the Ministry of Ports and Civil Aviation held at the Presidential Secretariat on October 27, the President assessed the current progress of ongoing development work at Katunayake Airport. During the session, he underscored the necessity of upgrading supporting infrastructure, placing particular emphasis on expanding the surrounding road networks to ensure seamless transit. Special focus was directed toward elevating convenience and service standards for air travelers across both Katunayake and regional airport facilities.
Key Developments
- Expediting passenger capacity expansion projects and facility modernizations at Katunayake International Airport.
- Simultaneous nationwide upgrades to domestic airports to align with future aviation requirements.
- Enhancement of surrounding road networks and crucial supporting infrastructure.
- Prioritization of passenger convenience across both international and regional aviation hubs.
The high-level meeting convened key sector leaders and senior state officials, including Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation and Minister of Energy Anura Karunathilaka, Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando, and Deputy Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation Janith Ruwan Kodituwakku. Also taking part were Chief of Staff to the President Prabath Chandrakeerthi, Senior Additional Secretary to the President and Secretary to the Ministry of Energy Russell Aponso, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma, Secretary to the Ministry of Ports and Civil Aviation W. W. S. Mangala, Deputy Secretary to the Treasury A. K. Seneviratne, Director General of the Department of National Budget Jude Nilukshan, along with officials from the Ministry of Finance and related institutions.