Katunayake

Katunayake (කටුනායක in Sinhala, கட்டுநாயக்க in Tamil), is a suburb of Negombo city in Western Province, Sri Lanka. It is the site of Bandaranaike International Airport or Colombo Airport, the primary international air gateway to Sri Lanka. With the change of government in 1977 and the introduction of the open economy policy a large area was allocated to create a free trade zone (currently known as the Export Promotion Zone).

Katunayake

කටුනායක
கட்டுநாயக்க
town
Katunayake
Coordinates: 7°10′N 79°52′E
ProvinceWestern Province
Population
 (2012)
 • Total61,228[1]
Time zoneUTC+05:30 (SLST)

Government and infrastructure

Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka has its head office in Katunayake.[2]

SriLankan Airlines is headquartered on the grounds of the airport in Katunayake.[3]

Economy

In 1977 the country's United National Party government introduced an open-economy policy, which led to the creation in 1978 of the country's first Free-trade zone (FTZ), currently known as an Export Processing Zone, in Katunayake. Located approximately 29 km (18 mi) northeast of Colombo, adjacent to the Bandaranaike International Airport, the Katunayake KTZ covers 190 ha (470 acres) and is the largest of the country's eight FTZs. It is governed by the Sri Lankan Board of Investment. In order to attract foreign investment the government provides a number of incentives, including duty free import and exports, preferential tax, double taxation relief and up to 100% foreign ownership. The Katunayake FTZ houses over one hundred multinational industries, predominantly in the garment and clothing industry. From its inception the FTZ the workforce was predominantly young female migrants from rural villages, mainly from economically and social marginalised groups.

On 30 May 2011 the police attacked workers at the Katunayake FTZ, protesting against a proposed new pension plan, resulting in the death of one of the protesters and over 200 injuries.[4] The police actions led to the Inspector General of Police, Mahinda Balasuriya, resigning his position.[5]

Transport
Bandaranaike International Airport at Katunayake

Katunayake is the site of the primary airport in the country, Bandaranaike International Airport.

It is served by Sri Lanka Railways' Puttalam Line, with stations at Katunayake, Katunayake South, and the airport.

Negombo is the northern end of the Colombo-Katunayake Expressway which connects the city of Colombo and A1 highway at Peliyagoda.[6] Katunayake is currently served by the A3 highway from Colombo to Negombo.

References
  1. http://www.citypopulation.de/SriLanka-Cities.html?cityid=1585
  2. "CAASL's new address is 152-1, Minuwangoda Road, Katunayake." Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka. Retrieved on 16 April 2018. "No.152/1, Opposite Radar Hill, Minuwangoda Road, Katunayake"
  3. "SriLankan Airlines - Contact Us / SriLankan Airlines Offices Archived 2009-09-18 at the Wayback Machine." SriLankan Airlines. Retrieved on 29 September 2009.
  4. Ramanayak, Wasantha (11 March 2012). "Police brutality mindless, indiscriminate and excessive: Petitioners". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  5. Berenger, Leon (5 June 2011). "Fear and fury: Aftermath of FTZ worker's killing". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  6. "Colombo - Katunayake Expressway". Road Development Authority. Archived from the original on 2012-01-21. Retrieved 2012-01-29.


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