10 December 2019 07:40 am
The government hopes to call for fresh bids from foreign investors to manage the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA), as the airport will be used mostly to transport air freight for the Free Trade Zone which will be set up in close proximity, Industrial Export, Investment Promotion and Civil Aviation Minister Prasanna Ranatunga told the Daily Mirror yesterday.
Ranatunga said while the government would have total ownership of the airport, they will open bids for a foreign company to manage it.
The Daily Mirror learns that the previous government was in talks with India to manage the airport, but no final decision was reached.
The airport was also dubbed a 'white elephant' project by the previous UNF government and termed as the 'world's loneliest airport'.
Minister Ranatunga said a Free Trade Zone will be set up in Mattala with international investments and the MRIA will be vital for air freight.
It will also help boost tourism in the area as the government will look to invite international airlines to land there.
"MRIA was totally neglected by the previous government as they did not do anything with it. However we now hope to develop it further and use it to its potential," Ranatunga said.
The Daily Mirror learns that the new government will also look to further develop the airports in Jaffna and Batticaloa to strengthen internal transportation.
A cabinet paper in this regard will be submitted soon after the general elections. (JAMILA HUSAIN)