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Last Updated : 2024-05-06 14:07:00
24 April 2024 07:26 am - 23 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Colombo, April 24 (Daily Mirror) - The Cabinet is likely to endorse a proposal this week on the transfer of the management of Sri Lanka’s second largest Mattala international airport, a top official said.
The Ports, Shipping and Aviation Ministry has already submitted the Cabinet proposal in this regard to be considered at the next sitting expected later this week.
The airport built with a Chinese loan of US $ 307 million has been running up heavy losses. The area where it's located — Mattala — is close to Hambantota, now meant to become the country's new commercial and transportation hub.
The airport is currently used for handling chartered tourist flights from Russia and some Central Asian countries.
Sambo Wednesday, 24 April 2024 07:43 AM
Keep selling and come the day you will be begging for votes. That's the day all you politicians will regret.
Ty jay Friday, 26 April 2024 10:00 AM
Nothing wrong with privatisation. Government shouldn't run any businesses. Rather support businesses and tax them!
Bandu Wednesday, 24 April 2024 07:55 AM
How its going to be privatised needs to be monitored by the media. Don't want political cronies to buy it at a lower price.
DW Wednesday, 24 April 2024 08:14 AM
Sri Lankan authorities may be proud to say that Sri Lanka’s second largest international airport but It was dubbed "The World's Emptiest International Airport" by the global media company Forbes due to its low number of flights despite the large size of the airport. It has been running up heavy losses because the original idea to build the airport came from a brainless fool.
AJ Wednesday, 24 April 2024 08:36 AM
Shortsighted crooks of MR family and the government borrowed so much keeping country and its people as surety for these unproductive projects and now trying to use private individual to earn out of it
sam Wednesday, 24 April 2024 08:48 AM
What can the govt manage in SL? Privatise the cabinet
Ama Wednesday, 24 April 2024 09:30 AM
Ask MR to bear the losses. Who will build an Airport in the jungle without doing a FEASIBILITY STUDY? It is the people should be blamed for electing this fellow.
Nish Wednesday, 24 April 2024 12:24 PM
The fact that there are private companies lining up to buy it means it's not unviable.
Good for warehouse or camping site Thursday, 25 April 2024 11:25 AM
@Nish - maybe for a price point of a warehouse space or camper site for holiday makers. Can include games and simulator training too. They will pay if lucky 1% of the actual cost building the airport.
sam Wednesday, 24 April 2024 11:51 AM
Privatisation of the cabinet is top priority!
Siri Chandra Wednesday, 24 April 2024 12:39 PM
All these people commenting know nothing of the REAL background or of Aviation. For eg, they dont know how India tried to mess SL up in the aviation field, since SL did not have an alternate airport in case of emergency or bad weather, etc.
JeffK Wednesday, 24 April 2024 01:30 PM
Do these people know anything? They even can't do their day job properly. Otherwise a country will progress regardless of what the rulers do.
Ratmalana Airport Should Have Been Upgraded Instead Wednesday, 24 April 2024 01:32 PM
They could have upgraded Ratmalana and benefited more people. Nearer to Colombo port city and its surroundings. Faster for tourists to reach their accommodation in comparison to BIA. Matala as mentioned is in the jungle and will take another 100years (remember SL is Bankrupt) to develop into reasonable city with some amenities.
London guy Wednesday, 24 April 2024 02:10 PM
If they need alternative airport, It could have been built in populated districts where all other facilities are available. (Kandy, Kalutara, Galle, Jaffna, Vavuniya). Or could have even converted already existing airports to International airports. Who asked to build an international airport in the middle of forest in Hambantota? Just because, MR was born in that district, it was built without even feasibility study.
Gunadasa Wednesday, 24 April 2024 02:43 PM
India can not mess up anything if Sri Lankan aircraft try to make emergency landing in Indian airports. These requirements are stipulated by international aviation laws.
LA Buddhadasa Wednesday, 24 April 2024 07:00 PM
India mess up? Then why did our aircraft refuel in India during the Aragalaya and bankruptcy?
Tissa Fernando Wednesday, 24 April 2024 04:18 PM
@DW, Mattala Airport was destroyed by Sirisena Ranil government. Now they are building another Airport at Higurakgoda, They also developed Jaffna Airport. Why ?
Mary Thiagarajah Thursday, 25 April 2024 02:32 AM
We can make this profitable by training student pilots of Sri Lanka and neighboring countries. At least 10 per cent of our students can become pilots when they get of their school!!!
Sira Thursday, 25 April 2024 04:16 AM
We know what they did in Gampola as well. Do not try teaching us history. we know what you did to demise of the country..
Kekiri Thursday, 25 April 2024 05:23 AM
Then why build an airport at Hingurakgoda? What is the purpose ? Is it to store paddy from Polonnaruwa farmlands? Or sell it after it is built? Why are private investors buying Mattala if it is not profitable? Are agents of western interests involved in the purchase?
white elephant Thursday, 25 April 2024 07:14 AM
The Government recently signed a deal with India's Gautam Adani Group one of the largest construction companies in India to re-develop and maintain the running of Sri Lanka's main airports at Katunayaka Mattala and Ratmalana. We don't have the necessary resources the know-how or the expertise to re-develop and maintain an airport in this country. Those who criticise should have a good look at Adani's recent airport constrution projects in India at Bengaluru Chennai Delhi etc. We donlt need a palace like the Bengaluru Airport or the largest airport in the world the Navi Mumbai Airport when completed but atleast one decent arport for the country we can call an international airport.
Shera Thursday, 25 April 2024 09:18 AM
Remember when Chandrika as president announced plans to privatize Air Lanka and it caused an uproar? People said, "rata wikunanawa" (selling the country). I'll leave it at that.
Ron Thursday, 25 April 2024 11:28 AM
Our people like runming business with lost due to own benifits most of government sectors are running at a lost even the most important sectors that can make profits that experiencing losses purely due to mismanagement theft and finance abuse etc this nation will keep suffering until no money to rescue its about time to be wise to semi or fully privertise it will benifit the nations prosperity and productivity of our work force to contribute genuinely to the country and for the future generations to come...
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