The main runway of the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) Katunayake , Sri Lanka has become operational on Thursday (April 06), the Srilankan Airlines new aircraft (UL-1162)  made the first landing at the runway. 

The airports main runway was closed for renovations on January 6.  Ministry said  the constructions was effective enough to expand the existing runway from 65 meters will be widen to 75 meters.

The most conducive dry weather patterns for the resurfacing works were considered based on the review of historical weather data at BIA maintained by the Department of Meteorology. The contract for the Overlaying Works was awarded on 1 September 2016 to the Joint Venture of China National Aero Technology International Group (CATIC) and Shanghai New Era Airport Design.

Both these organizations were credited under the Civil Aviation Authority of China. The contract was to overlay the runway and construction of associated works on a design and build basis. The cost of the entire project estimated was US$ 50 million. Under the major developments of the runway project the extent of work involved as follows:

• Runway of BIA is upgraded to modified Code F compliance
•Aerodrome Ground Lighting of the Runway and Taxiway system of BIA upgraded to CAT II as per ICAO
•All of the new installation will be energy efficiency LED Light system
•Surface movement guidance system to the Runway and taxiway systems
•New airfield light control and monitoring system
•All Runway markings as per ACI new addition
•Capacity of Runway system will be enhanced to meet next 20 year growth

Netherlands Airport Consultants (NACO), the design and supervision consultant was the design and supervision consultant of the runway when it was constructed and commissioned under Phase 1 Development Project of Colombo International Airport in 1986.

The new runway is now fully comprised with the LED lighting system, enabling the airport to operate even under bad weather condition & this renovated runway would also allow for large aircraft such as the A-380 to use the airport.