MRIA commercial image damaged by paddy: Official

20 April 2018 02:07 am - 15 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The image of the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) had been tarnished after storing tons of paddy at the airport premises, a senior official at the MRIA said.

“Even after the landing of the world's largest cargo aircraft, Antonov An-225 Mriya on Wednesday, people kept on saying ‘the largest aircraft landed at the Mattala paddy store.’

He said MRIA was constructed as an international airport built by the previous Government.

“MRIA was internationally and locally a well-recognised airport but the image was tarnished when the Yahapalanaya Government came to office,” he said.

Because of storing the paddy several high-sensitivity types of equipment had been damaged from the paddy dust, he said.

“However, all damages were paid for by the Government following this unnecessary attempt,” he said.

“Despite, paddy being removed after January 14, 2016, the Government could not remove the tarnished image,” he said.

The cargo terminal which was used to store paddy was refurbished and came into operation since January this year.

“Even on social media the same issue was spoken about,” he said. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)

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Comments - 15

stardust Thursday, 19 April 2018 11:55 PM

We all know this airport is good for nothing a clear failure. via DM Android App

Lawry Friday, 20 April 2018 03:20 AM

On the contrary it is this so called senior official who is now tarnishing. There were many stories of this underutilised mega airport even before the paddy arrived. Not a fly landed in the airport. Tarmac used for drying spiced and animals and birds moving about?

Kumar Friday, 20 April 2018 03:25 AM

The Mattala air port being very close to the main shipping lane in the Indian Ocean,Sri Lanka can canvas at the international level to do some thing that does not exist anywhere,providing air patrols on all shipping lanes in the Indian Ocean just like the cops patrolling the streets.We could even aim to make it as the command and coordinating centre for all activities and weather watch in the Indian Ocean.

GC Friday, 20 April 2018 05:43 AM

I think the image was tarnished well before that, when there were not many aeroplanes that used the airport for reasons people know.

Sujeewa Friday, 20 April 2018 06:28 PM

GS, please remember that it was only a 3-yr old airport when Jaraapalanaya ruined it. I don't know whether you have any business acumen, but if you possess, you know very well 3-yrs is not enough to make a good assessment of a commercial venture. Also, it is not a "good business" decission to destroy an airport and turn it to a paddy wear house.

GC Friday, 20 April 2018 08:49 PM

Sujeewa, Those with good business acumen look at costs and benefits, study the future market etc before they invest money on a project. Banks do not give loans to individuals if they do not have a business plan that shows returns. Are you saying build something and then wait for it to succeed by some luck! No wonder our country has so many white elephants and is in this dire situation.

C.K.Lankaputhra Friday, 20 April 2018 05:48 AM

Can u pls. Tell us how many airlines send their planes to MRIA up to 2015? Also tell us how many airlines stopped their services to MARIA after storing paddy? I know u will never answer to these two questions.

Siribiris Friday, 20 April 2018 08:46 PM

Stupid question - because their claim was that its image for potential was distroyed, and not that its operations were cancelled.

Amw Friday, 20 April 2018 05:58 AM

How dare a government official criticize a government decision.. It may be wrong or right but he cannot hit at the government.. Kick this traitor out.. If this happened during the past regime, can imagine what would happen...

Rambo Friday, 20 April 2018 06:19 PM

Why not start from the Diyawannawa club who had ruined the country! Any person with a back-bone should speak the truth if not where is the freedom of speech, transparency etc as promised?

සිරිවවර්ධන Friday, 20 April 2018 11:01 AM

විශාල ගුවන් යානයක් ගොඩ බෑමෙන්, වී ගබඩා කිරිමට පමණක් නොව, වී ප්‍රවාහන සඳහා ද මත්තල ගුවන් තොටුපල සුදුසුයි කියලා ඔප්පු වුනා.

BuffaloaCitizen Friday, 20 April 2018 01:18 PM

Patriotism, tarnishing the countries image, sovereignty are all garb used by MahaRaju's cohorts. Today if a fly settles on MRIA, they will blame it as the reason aircrafts are refusing to come without logically understanding that such an airport should not have been constructed in the first place. This airport was not built for the worlds largest aircraft to land once in six months, nor aircrafts to land once a day, but for it to be a profitable return on the investment where at least 30 aircrafts land in one day. If the airport was built on the confirmed business plan of at least 10 aircrafts landing per day, then it is understood that the necessity and future investment profitability is their, but alas it was done for the purpose of one persons personal agenda on public resources.

Taz Friday, 20 April 2018 01:19 PM

This senior official must be a moron if he thinks the airport isn't successful because of the paddy storage. It just shows the calibre of people who are employed as 'senior officials' by this government.

Rambo Friday, 20 April 2018 06:23 PM

Mere Jealousy as the current government couldn't do anything other than looting including the central bank, now the fellows go after Interpol to get the buddy of PM... Ha ha Haaa!

Dee Friday, 20 April 2018 07:50 PM

Even a kid will understand that this dump is a failure. Who is this guy trying to protect? How many AN 225 in service and how often they fly this route? Even before the so called 'Jarapalanaya' came in how many flight's landed? (Except for the UL flights which were forced to touch down adding to their financial misery. All I could say to this official is "go produce some kurahan" that's about all he would be good for.

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MRIA commercial image damaged by paddy: Official

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