from Ratmalana to London. On 11 August 1952, 3 months after the inaugural service of a passenger jet aircraft, BOAC began its Comet service between Colombo and London. Later (March 1962 - March 1971) Air Ceylon operated a Comet service on this route to London. The airport was also a Trans World Airlines (TWA) destination for a short time in the 1950s. Domestic-only era In 1964, the government decided to build the new Bandaranaike International Airport north of the city, to replace Ratmalana. The new airport was completed in 1967 and Ratmalana handed over all international services to the new airport. Ratmalana was left with the relatively small market for domestic air travel in the country. Return to international service As of 27 March 2022, the airport resumed international travel after 55 years. Expansion and upgrade The airport is only 15 km south of the Colombo city centre compared to the larger Bandaranaike International Airport which is 32 km north of the city. The airport aims to attract private international flights and low-cost airlines. Helitours, an airline operated by the Sri Lankan Airforce is based at the airport. There are a few industrial facilities such as the Bata shoe factory within a close proximity of the airport. The Government is developing the Ratmalana airport into an international city airport, which would provide services to private jets and small aircraft. In addition facilities at the Ampara, Batticaloa, Jaffna, and Koggala airports will be also upgraded. Repair to the runway and reconfiguration to the aerodrome for the use of corporate jet traffic would be done as a short-term development project of the Ratmalana airport. Improvements to the existing terminal building, repair to the runway, taxiway and apron, reconfiguration to the aerodrome for the use of corporate jet traffic would be done as a short-term development project of the Ratmalana airport. Under the medium-term of the Ratmalana airport development project: Improvements to the existing terminal building Control tower Taxiway Road network improvements Navigational equipment installations Constructing a terminal for civil movements and apron also implemented Current Facilities at the Airport Ground Handling Immigration Service Baggage and Passenger screening as per ICAO Standards Quarantine Re-fueling VIP Lounge Aeronautical Information Services Terminals There are currently 2 terminals at the airport. Terminal 1: International Corporate Jets & Domestic Terminal 2: International Regional Operations Airlines and destinations Passenger flights Lodger Squadrons No. 8 Light Transport Squadron Accidents