11 September 2020 07:36 pm
The airports in the country were not closed but the number of flights and passengers have been restricted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Aviation and Export Zones Development State Minister D.V. Chanaka said today.
He told Parliament that required facilities at airports were kept ready and added that however, they would have to decide on the increase of the number of flights and passengers leaving and arriving the country on the recommendations of the health ministry and the Task Force of the National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO).
“There is an opinion that the airports in the country have been closed. No, we have not closed the airports. They are open even now. But, we have restricted the number of flights and passengers. All facilities at the airports have been kept ready. We have to decide on the number of flights and passengers on the recommendations of the health ministry and CORONA committee,” he said.
The state minister said the airports were not developed during the previous regime and added that Mattala airport was disregarded.
“The previous government could not complete the second terminal of the Bandaranaike International Airport. We have been able to commence work on the second terminal within three months in office. We are able to handle only six million passengers at the BIA. We can double it after completing the second terminal,” he said.
The minister said steps have been taken to develop the Mattala Airport, adding that several aviation companies have agreed to develop it.
“We have taken several steps to develop the Mattala airport. We have reduced landing charges to zero while parking charges have been completely removed. We have invited airline companies to join us,” he said. (Ajith Siriwardana and Yohan Perera)