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No proposal to take controlling stake in Mattala Airport: India

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27 July 2018 03:04 pm - 6     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The Civil Aviation Ministry of India on Thursday said that there is no proposal under consideration for the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to buy a controlling stake in Sri Lanka's Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport, the Economic Times reported.

In the Lok Sabha, BJP member Poonam Mahajan has asked whether the AAI is considering purchasing a controlling stake in the Mattala airport, thereby gaining ownership of the airport.

"No madam. No such proposal is under consideration at present," Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha said in a written reply.

To the query on whether the AAI would build a flying school and a maintenance, repair and overhaul unit at the Mattala airport, Sinha replied in the negative.

On July 19, Sri Lanka's Civil Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva had told the country's Parliament that the AAI has been asked to submit its business plan for operating the loss-making Mattala airport.

The USD 210 million facility, 241-km south-east of Colombo, is dubbed the "world's emptiest airport".

The airport was officially opened in March 2013. The only international flight operating from there was halted in May due to recurrent losses and flight safety issues.


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  Comments - 6

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  • Radar Friday, 27 July 2018 04:07 PM

    It's time to close down this airport for good. If we beg India to help out the South say India interfering in the sovereignitry of SL. This is due to the poor knowledge about sovereignty. When we needed intelligence and help to over come the war India is good. People must understand and be educated that India is a massive sub continent don't care about petty matters.

    S.P.RAMKUMAR Friday, 27 July 2018 04:07 PM

    Rather than giving to India or Chine Government have to consider to Private multinational Airlines companies to use this Airport,

    Pachaya Friday, 27 July 2018 04:10 PM

    Camels going in to the TENT also spoke same words. How funny?

    Haramanis Friday, 27 July 2018 04:50 PM

    Who's lying to who?? - looks like another hoaxwagon

    Dushyantha Kekulawela Friday, 27 July 2018 09:27 PM

    in the beginning the BIA was facing the same issues as the MRIA today. Those days there were a few passenger planes and a few air travelers and wasn't a big contributor to the local economy. But today BIA is a major contributor to the local economy. Given time and with proper management we can turn around the MRIA to be a major contributor to the local economy. Think positively.

    Jaliya Saturday, 28 July 2018 07:45 PM

    Can you elaborate on which terminal the Peacock and the wild Racoon arrived at BIA those days ?


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