Accordingly, the construction site of the Maththala airport in the Hambantota district will be open for public view from November, Ministry of Ports and Aviation said.

The airport being built has a 3.5 kilometers long and 75 meters wide runway. It is to be opened for flight operations in 2012.

The new airport will be constructed on a plot of 2,000 hectares in Hambantota district at a cost of US$200 million. The Government of the People's Republic of China provides financial assistance for the project with a soft loan.

When completed the new airport, alternative to the Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake, will support both international and domestic travel and air-sea cargo transshipment in conjunction with the Hambantota Harbor.

The construction site of the Hambantota harbor became a hot spot for the local tourists and school students in the past few months and the authorities expect the airport site will be the same.