The airport construction project is under way on a 2,000 hectare bare land at a cost of US $ 200 million, reported Daily News.

800 hectares of land has been acquired so far as the first phase, while another 1,200 hectares will be acquired under the second phase, the report added.

Under the first phase basic aerodynamic facilities, runway, apron, taxiway, passenger and cargo terminals, access roads, accommodation for officials, fuel storages, sewerage treatment plant, water supply facilities, meteorological building, fire fighting facilities, buildings for catering facilities and car park will be constructed, the report said.

At the second phase which will cover 1,200 hectares, airport and aviation related facilities will be constructed. Under this, servicing and a repairing centre for aircraft, hotel and recreational facilities, pilot training centre, maintenance hub, private jet hangar, technical training centers, a full length parallel taxiway and many more facilities will be completed, the report said.

The Ports and Aviation Ministry Secretary K.V.P. Ranjith De Silva said that the construction would be carried out to meet international standards established in the airport and aviation industry such as ICAO specifications for Code 4F. The runway is 3,500 meters in length and 75 meters in width. It is to operate any size of aircraft such as the A380 air-bus, the largest aircraft ever built, the report said.

After the airport construction, it is expected to hold one million passenger movements through the airport.

The airport which is to be an alternative to the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) will be geared to support international and domestic air travel, sea cargo transshipment in conjunction with the Hambantota harbour.