# World

Sri Lankan cabinet clears proposal to turn military airbase into civil airport

Sri Lankan cabinet approved a proposal to make preparations to develop the Hingurakgoda airport in the North Central Province as a complete airport for civilian use, the government’s information department said on Tuesday.

IANS | New Delhi | June 26, 2024 11:17 am

Sri Lankan cabinet clears proposal to turn military airbase into civil airport

Sri Lankan cabinet approved a proposal to make preparations to develop the Hingurakgoda airport in the North Central Province as a complete airport for civilian use, the government’s information department said on Tuesday.

The department said that President Ranil Wickremesinghe, in his capacity as the minister of defence and Minister of Ports, Shipping and Aviation Nimal Siripala de Silva, submitted the proposal earlier, Xinhua news agency reported.

Currently, under the management of the Sri Lanka Air Force, the Hingurakgoda airport is set to be developed in accordance with international civil aviation standards. A committee has been appointed for the preparation of the master plan for the airport and other related tasks, according to the department.

The Hingurakgoda airport was originally known as Royal Air Force Minneriya airport, which can be dated back to World War II, serving as a base for the British Royal Air Force. Since then, it has been used as a military airbase.

Sri Lankan

# Sports

Tour Championship: Chhibber, Bedi and Thangaraja share top spot after Round 1

The four players tied for second place at five-under 66 were Pune’s Rohan Dhole Patil, Shamim Khan of Delhi, Bengaluru’s M Dharma and Jamal Hossain of Bangladesh.

# World

Sri Lankan President Dissanayake visits Jan Aushadhi Kendra at AIIMS in Delhi

Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who is on a three-day State visit, on Tuesday visited a Jan Aushadhi Kendra at AIIMS here to gain insights into the country's quality and affordable medicine distribution system, an official said.

# Opinion

The Indian Way

Indictment of the chairman and top executives of the Adani Group on bribery charges by a New York court, has set alarm bells ringing in India. Less than two years ago, a US short-seller, Hindenburg, had alleged massive financial impropriety by the Adani group, but after long drawn enquiries, SEBI gave the Adanis a clean chit ~ which was endorsed by the Supreme Court.