H’tota projects are useless: UNP report

7 May 2014 11:24 am - 24 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The group of UNP parliamentarians who visited Hambantota Airport and the Harbour on a fact-finding mission on April 17 handed over an interim report to the party Leadership Council today, based on the tour and charged that both mega projects were carried out in haste and were unprofitable.

“It is evident that both mega projects were carried out in haste, ignoring feasibility studies. A strategic plan will have to be put in place to avoid future defaults on loans taken out when carrying out mega projects such as these,” UNP Parliamentarian Eran Wickremeratne said.

He said that a more suitable location for a second airport was situated in Hingurakgoda with basic infrastructure facilities to use in case of an emergency, instead of Mattala which was also in the same weather zone as the Colombo airport.

“It is requirement that an airport needs access to a second runaway in case of an emergency or in the event of severe weather conditions. Mattala also lies in the Southwest monsoon zone. Therefore Both Colombo and Mattala will be affected the same by a bad weather condition. Hingurakgoda lies in a different zone and is a better location for a second airport,” he said, adding that the Mattala airport did not appear to be geographically and environmentally suited.

The report said that there was an artificial attempt to utilise capacity by diverting flights at Mattala as there was no demand for the airport. “Only a handful of passengers had embarked and disembarked. On a typical day, 3 to 6 aircraft were handled,” it says. (Lahiru Pothmulla)

Pix by Kithsiri de Mel

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Comments - 24

Ranil Silva Wednesday, 07 May 2014 10:59 PM

Oh, atleast they handle 3 - 6 aircrafts a day. That is a good sign. I thought they handle 3 - 6 a month according to other news.

Devaka Friday, 09 May 2014 03:30 AM

Look at the photos to see useless.

Upul Thursday, 08 May 2014 10:43 AM

What Benefits ? Only benefit we are getting is the climate change.

achcharu Thursday, 08 May 2014 08:45 AM

They handle 3-6 a day because UL flights are made to stop to drop off 2-3 passengers. we can probably Heli lift them to H'tota with the Fuel cost of diversion.

amal Thursday, 08 May 2014 05:59 AM

Pls get your facts right. Mahaveli project was a huge success. We are still enjoying the benefits of it and continue to do so.

Concerned Thursday, 08 May 2014 05:50 AM

[quote name="Tharanga Perera"]Get lost you useless bunch of fools...[/quote]
They are peoples' representatives, appointed by the people of this country to the Parliament of this country and not what you say!!

Concerned Thursday, 08 May 2014 05:45 AM

They were self-profitable to some indeed

ENg.M.V.R.Perera Thursday, 08 May 2014 05:25 AM

why not use the hambantota Harbor for a BOT Coal Power Project with competitive binding and a fair pricing formula which will bring a direct investment of 1200 million US dollars

Mason Thursday, 08 May 2014 05:06 AM

Everyone know this long before the visit. These are to satisfy the ego of the Rajapakse family and commissions on the contracts.

Mutu Thursday, 08 May 2014 04:45 AM

For those uninitiated the weather affects similarly both Colombo and Hambantota during south west monsoon. Further even the expressways do not have facilities they should have. If vehicles breaks down between Kottwa and Matara passengers have to use alternate transport. What they should have is facilities to attend to minor defects of vehicles so that people can continue their journeys.

Chandra Thursday, 08 May 2014 01:24 AM

In the event of bad weather conditions in Colombo airlines need not divert to India any more. (Nearest airport is in Chennai)Please note any development in the country is always a blessing. Furthermore, these development shall benefits not only to this generations but future generations as well.

Percyval M Thursday, 08 May 2014 12:10 AM

It is your duty to find business somehow when you come to power !!!!

Sri Lankan Wednesday, 07 May 2014 11:32 AM

Please publish it and make it available for public discussion.

Nugegodage Thursday, 08 May 2014 01:02 AM

I feel government should have relocated the dehiwala zoo to Hambanthota . To have an airport is an useless idea . What ever said and done people wont use this airport even if they interconnect it with a highway . A large scale zoo could have been the best idea.

Tom Wednesday, 07 May 2014 09:04 PM

When Mattala fall in to South West Monsoon. . and If your love this country U would have tell this early & try to stop wasting money.. Now dont be Jelous.. We dont belive u Wait few months more and see hw it run.. via DM Android App

dan Wednesday, 07 May 2014 12:25 PM

Even though Katunayake and Mattala located in the same whether zone, we all know that no day the whether was the same in both Mattala and in Katunayake. The strategy behind selecting Mattala over Hingurakgoda was top develop a new city around Hambantota new Sea Port.

Ceylonese Wednesday, 07 May 2014 05:53 PM

What.... weather pattern is same in Colombo & Hambata via DM Android App

ind Wednesday, 07 May 2014 11:59 AM

This is not like a bus halt build roadside which is to be busy from the very start. So, give some time. Then only we can say whether it is a good project of bad project. Even I have an issue with Mattala Air Port. But, Harbor is a good project. Even Mattala has to consider instead of Weerawila due to protests from the residents backed by opposition.

king Wednesday, 07 May 2014 11:56 AM

That;s the truth... Look at projects like mahaweli....
Look at norochchole....
Stop protecting corruption or our kids will have nothing to live !

impi Wednesday, 07 May 2014 11:55 AM

We already know that . Issue is that you guys took this much of time to understand that.

sss Wednesday, 07 May 2014 11:53 AM

May be correct. We have a history of haphazard development like JR's expedited Mahaveli scheme which has caused havoc to climate and people around Kandy

Arthikagura Wednesday, 07 May 2014 05:21 PM

From the time of independence we have been making the same mistakes. We went for mega projects without the capacity to run them. Mega projects meant higher the commission for the people behind them. Its not confined to the reign of only a particular party but all parties that ruled the country. When will we rise above these petty minded and corrupt system. Deviyani api asaranai. via DM iPad app

Izmy Wednesday, 07 May 2014 11:39 AM

And their mission was fruitful by getting cheap publicity.

Tharanga Perera Wednesday, 07 May 2014 11:36 AM

Get lost you useless bunch of fools...

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H’tota projects are useless: UNP report

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