CAASL Seeks MoD’s Security
Clearance for Ratmalana Airport Wall
Demolition
Sri Lanka’s first international airport, the Ratmalana International Airport in the heart of Colombo, now faces scrutiny. Aviation Minister Bimal Rathnayake has called for the immediate removal of the boundary wall, which is a potential death trap. However, Ceylon Today has learned that implementing such a measure is tangled in bureaucracy. The Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL), the sole decision-making body, has deferred the decision to the Ministry of Defence, citing concerns over airport security and national safety.
Ceylon Today’s recent exposé stressed a critical safety concern at Ratmalana International Airport — its boundary wall, which could pose a catastrophic risk to air travel. This issue gained renewed urgency following the tragic aviation disaster at South Korea’s Muan Airport on 29 December 2024. In that incident, a passenger plane, Jeju Air Flight 2216 skidded off the runway, struck a concrete boundary wall, and burst into flames, killing 179 passengers. The crash was attributed to the front landing gear failing to deploy, making the boundary wall a death trap.
Experts argue that the boundary wall should never have been constructed, as it violates international aviation safety standards. To understand the implications and urgency of dismantling the wall, Ceylon Today reached out to Aruna Rajapakse, Head of Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Pvt Ltd (AASL), for insights into how quickly action can be taken and what challenges lie ahead.
Rajapakse clarified that the boundary wall was constructed by the Air Force, not by Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Pvt) Ltd (AASL) or the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL). He explained that it was built during the war to protect the aircraft and airport from potential threats posed by the Tamil Tigers.
However, he emphasized that the CAASL is the sole authority responsible for such decisions. “If the CAASL issues a directive to demolish the wall, the AASL will act accordingly. It is our priority to address safety requirements once we receive the necessary recommendations. We will coordinate with the relevant agencies to carry out the demolition,” Rajapakse said.
Rajapakse emphasized the importance of optimizing existing resources to enhance the airport’s functionality and efficiency. Any decisions beyond that must be made by the CAASL.
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) mandates that airports must have fences or other barriers in place to prevent unauthorized access and to keep out animals that could pose a hazard to aircraft operations. These measures are essential for ensuring the safety and security of both passengers and aviation infrastructure.
0 Comments