Sinister plan to paralyse BIA, says UNP

17 March 2013 10:19 am

The main opposition UNP today charged that a sinister plan was under way to paralyse the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), by shifting the high-tech machinery and skilled staff to the Mattala International Airport which would be declared opened tomorrow.

United National Party (UNP) Gampaha District MP Dr. Jayalath Jayawardene told a news conference today that this action by the government to shift the staff and the machinery to Mattala would paralyse the BIA which has been Sri Lanka’s premier international airport.

The UNP MP said jobs in the Katunayake Free trade zone would also be in jeopardy through this move. He made this allegation by recalling that the Free Trade Zone was set up in its present location because it was a strategic point with the airport in the vicinity, therefore, there would be a negative effect on the country’s economy, he said.(Yohan Perera)