Sigiriya Airport Explained

Sigiriya Airport
Iata:GIU
Icao:VCCS
Type:Military/Public
Owner:Government of Sri Lanka
Operator:Sri Lanka Air Force
City-Served:Dambulla
Location:Sigiriya, Central Province, Sri Lanka
Opened:1942, 1985
Closed:1946
Used:1942 - 1946
1985 - Present
Commander:C. P. Gunatileke
Metric-Elev:Yes
Elevation-F:630
Elevation-M:192
Coordinates:7.9559°N 80.7281°W
Pushpin Map:Sri Lanka
Pushpin Image:Sri Lanka relief location map.jpg
Pushpin Label:GIU
Pushpin Label Position:right
Metric-Rwy:Yes
R1-Number:04/22
R1-Length-F:5801
R1-Length-M:1768
R1-Surface:Asphalt

Sigiriya Airport is an air force base and domestic airport located in central Sri Lanka.[1] Located near the city of Dambulla, the airport is also known as SLAF Sigiriya.[2]

History

Sigiriya Airport was first opened in 1942 as an airfield established by the Royal Air Force during World War II. A number of RAF squadrons (8 (1945), 160 (1943-44), 200 (1944-45), 203 (1944-45), 354 (1944)) and other units were stationed at the airfield during and immediately after the war.[3] With the end of the war, and subsequently no use for the airfield it was abandoned by the RAF in 1946.[4]

On 19 April 1985, the airfield was opened again for the Sri Lanka Air Force by Lalith Athulathmudali, then Minister of National Security and Deputy Minister of Defence, on the invitation of Air Marshal Donald Perera, Commander of the Air Force.

References

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. Web site: VCCS - Sigiriya. Aeronautical Information Services of Sri Lanka, Airport & Aviation Services. 13 March 2014.
  2. Web site: VCCS - Airport. Great Circle Mapper. 13 March 2014.
  3. Web site: RAF Sigiriya. Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation. 13 March 2014.
  4. Web site: Sri Lanka Air Force Sigiriya. Sri Lanka Air Force. 13 March 2014.