Erin Hunter
Although a tiny island, air travel within Sri Lanka spans back decades. Dotted around the country are a number of different airports; most of which are exclusive used for flying within the island.
Located on the Eastern province of Sri Lanka, the Ampara Airport is a prominent airbase for all those domestic travelers from Sri Lanka's East. The Airport was established in the 1950's and has been used significantly for military purposes since its inception.
Situated in the historic city of Anuradhapara, the Anuradhapura Airport aids all those avid explorers who intend getting to this city in ease and comfort. Shrinking travel time from Colombo to just an hour from the nearly 8 hour drive, choosing to fly to this city and land at the Anuradhapura airport is the best option if you are short on time during your island exploration.
The Civil war of Sri Lanka has left much an imprint on the Batticaloa Airport in the Eastern province of the Island. Although it was a considerable player during the war, today it is an important airport used by the public to get to the East.
Nothing takes you to Sigiriya as fast as a plane ride to this most historically significant city in the island. Established in the year 1942 by the Royal Air Force, the Airport was used to station RAF squadrons during and immediately after the World War II.
The Koggala airport has been in operation from the 140's to date. Used for both military and public purposes, the government intends to upgrade the airport to meet international standards. The Koggala airport is the ideal airfield for those intending to visit Southern Sri Lanka.
Located on the North of Sri Lanka the Jaffna Airport suffered for years in the hands of the LTTE. Since the end of the war, Jaffna has been blossoming as a popular tourist destination and the Jaffna Airport has been used significantly by domestic travelers.
This Airport in Trincomalee has served as the military air base during the civil war in Sri Lanka. Today the airport and its surroundings is a popular attraction for tourists where several fighter planes and equipment used during the war are exhibited.
Another Airport in the north, the Vavuniya Airport is yet again used mainly for military purposes. Since the airport is part of the security forces head quarters Wanni, it is definitely an interesting place to visit.
Apart from the classical land based airports, Sri Lanka also has a good number of water dromes since the island is blessed with an array of rivers and lakes. A popular water drome in Sri Lanka is the Bentota River Airport. Affording breathtaking views and an unparalleled experience, this airport is very commonly used by Cinnamon Air; the most popular Sri Lanka Air Taxi Service.
