Vavuniya Airport

Vavuniya Airport (Tamil: வவுனியா விமான நிலையம், romanized: Vavuṉiyā Vimāṉa Nilaiyam; Sinhala: වවුනියාව ගුවන්තොටුපළ, romanized: Vavuniyāva Guvantoṭupaḷa) (ICAO: VCCV) is an air force base and domestic airport in Vavuniya in northern Sri Lanka.[1][2] Located approximately 1.4 km (0.87 mi) south of the centre of Vavuniya, the airport is also known as SLAF Vavuniya. Originally built by the Royal Air Force during World War II, it was taken over by the Sri Lanka Air Force in 1978.

Vavuniya Airport

வவுனியா விமான நிலையம்
වවුනියාව ගුවන්තොටුපළ
SLAF Vavuniya crest
Summary
Airport typeMilitary/Public
OwnerGovernment of Sri Lanka
OperatorSri Lanka Air Force
LocationVavuniya, Sri Lanka
Built1942
In use1942 - 1946,
1978 - present
CommanderP. D. K. T. Jyasinghe
Elevation AMSL91 m / 299 ft
Coordinates08°44′28.30″N 80°29′52.80″E
Map
VCCV
Location in greater Vavuniya
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
05/23 1,524 5,000 Asphalt

History

During World War II the British Royal Air Force built an airfield in Vavuniya in northern Ceylon.[3] A number of RAF squadrons (17, 22, 47, 60, 89, 132, 176, 217) and other units were stationed at the airfield during and immediately after the war.[4] The airfield was also used by the Fleet Air Arm.[5]

A Sri Lanka Air Force detachment moved onto the site on 1 August 1978.[3][6] The airfield become one of the air force's air bases. The airport is part of a large military complex in Vavuniya that includes Security Forces Headquarters - Wanni.[7]

Airlines and destinations
AirlinesDestinations
FitsAir Charter: Colombo-Ratmalana
Helitours Charter: Colombo-Ratmalana
SriLankan Airlines
operated by Cinnamon Air 		Charter: Colombo-Bandaranaike

Lodger squadrons

References
  1. "VCCV VAVUNIYA". Aeronautical Information Services of Sri Lanka, Airport & Aviation Services.
  2. "VCCV - Airport". Great Circle Mapper.
  3. "Sri Lanka Air Force Base Vavuniya". Sri Lanka Air Force. Archived from the original on 3 March 2008. Retrieved 8 February 2009.
  4. "RAF Stations - V". Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation.
  5. Fernando, Hemasiri (19 May 2005). "Plight of civil aviation in Sri Lanka". The Island (Sri Lanka).
  6. "SLAF - highly professional outfit: Rendering indispensable, humanitarian service". Daily News (Sri Lanka). 3 March 2011.
  7. Athas, Iqbal (14 September 2008). "Vavuniya attack: How it happened and why". The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka).


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