Katukurunda Airport

Katukurunda Airport Katukurunda Airport Katukurunda Airport

Katukurunda Airport is a domestic airport located near the town of Kalutara in Sri Lanka. It is also a military airbase known as Sri Lanka Air Force Katukurunda or SLAF Katukurunda

The airport is located 2.5 nautical miles (4.6 km) southeast of the town of Kalutara. It is at an elevation of 3 metres (10 ft) and has one runway designated 11/29 with a bitumen surface measuring 1,006 by 46 metres (3,301 ft × 151 ft).

History

Originally established as the Royal Naval Air Station HMS Ukussa, it was reactivated in 1984 by the Sri Lanka Air Force. It has been the venue for many motor races conducted in association with the Air Force Sports Board and with Sports Ministry approval.

Established in 1944 by the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy at its peak it was the largest Royal Naval Air Station, staffed by 300 Officers, 3000 sailors and 100 women from the Women's Royal Naval Service. It serviced more than 100 aircraft at any given time whilst maintaining an aircraft repair yard.

Local civil flying schools provide flight training facilities from the aerodrome.

Airlines and destinations
Airlines Destinations
Simplifly Colombo-Bandaranaike, Colombo-Ratmalana
Open Skies Katukurunda-Ratmalana-Koggala-Katunayake-Dondra
Skyline Colombo-Ratmalana-Katukurunda-Koggala-Dondra
Richy Sky lark Bentota (Commercial operator)
Asian Aviation Colombo-Ratmalana
Katukurunda Airport Katukurunda Airport Katukurunda Airport

About Kalutara District

Kalutara is situated approximately 42km south of Colombo. Once a spice trading post, Kalutara was controlled variously by the Portuguese, Dutch and British. The town is famous for quality bamboo basket and mats and the most luscious mangosteens.

The 38-meter long Kalutara Bridge was built at the mouth of the Kalu Ganga River and serves as a major link between the country's Western and Southern border. At the southern end of the bridge lies the 3 stories-high Kalutara Vihara, a Buddhist temple built in the 1960s which holds the distinction of being the only stupa in the world that is hollow.

About Western Province

The Western Province is the most densely populated province of Sri Lanka. It is home to the legislative capital Sri Jayawardenapura as well to Colombo, the nation's administrative and business center. Western Province is divided into 3 main districts called Colombo (642 km²), Gampaha (1,386.6 km²) and Kalutara (1,606 km²) districts. As Sri Lanka's economic hub, all the major local and international corporations have their presence in the city and so do all the major designer and high street retailers, so be ready to indulge in some retail therapy in western province.

Having the highest population in the all the provinces, the almost all the premier educational institutions in the island are located in western province. Universities in the province include the University of Colombo, the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, University of Kelaniya, Open University, Sri Lanka, Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University and University of Moratuwa .Western province has the largest amount of schools in the country, which includes National, Provincial, Private and International schools.