Invitation to use MRIA; Govt to follow up with three airlines - Minister

By Kelum Bandara

The government will follow up with three Middle East airlines - Qatar Airways, Emirates and Gulf Air - regarding the invitation for the use of the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA), a minister said.  Port and Aviation Minister Aruna Karunatilake told Daily Mirror yesterday that the government extended an invitation for them to use the airport for their operation including parking their aircrafts, but no response had come from them.  

“We will follow it up with them next week. We want to find out their official position to our invitation,” he said.  

He said basic facilities are alright at the airport, but parking is possible for a few planes only.