Expressions of Interest (EOI) has already been called for the expansion of the Jaffna International Airport in Palali, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Aviation told The Daily Morning Business.

Speaking to The Daily Morning Business, Secretary to the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Aviation K. D. S. Ruwanchandra said: “We are to develop (expand) the (Jaffna) airport to bring down an A330 aircraft.” 

Accordingly, EOI called by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Aviation for the augmentation of Jaffna International Airport, Sri Lanka Proposal No: 002/T/2024 states, “Proposals should be submitted on or before 3 April 2024.”

The Daily Morning inquired the current capacity of the aforesaid airport to which Ruwanchandra responded that it is a mere ATR aircraft which carries an approximate of 70 passengers.

Meanwhile, the passenger capacity of an A330 aircraft is between 280 to 330, he added.  

Sri Lanka also aspires to welcome tourists from India while the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) looks forward to attracting tourists to Jaffna with gradual increase of tourists. 

The Palali Airport  was renamed Jaffna International Airport declaring it as  Sri Lanka’s third international airport in October 2019 and had its first flight from Chennai. The 2019 redevelopment of the airport was, in fact, funded by both Sri Lanka and India. It, thus far, only caters to two or three per week.