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Free Landing At New Mahinda s Airport
Sunday, 25 March 2012 - 6:05 PM SL Time
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In an attempt to woo international passenger airlines to the new Mattala international airport, President Mahinda Rajapaksa has decided to grant free landing and parking for the airlines during the first year of operations.
The Mattala international airport is scheduled to be opened on November 18 this year, the day the President celebrates his birthday and third anniversary since he took office for the second term. The original deadline was June 2013 but the government has ordered the Chinese construction company to complete construction in time for the President to open it on his birthday.
When The Sunday Leader contacted the Deputy Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Kamal Ratwatte, he confirmed that four international airlines have already agreed to land at the Mattala airport once it opens.
Emirates, Qatar Airways, Fly Dubai and Japan Airlines have confirmed or are in negotiations to land their flights at the new airport.
He said that these airlines will be given free landing and parking for the first year while SriLankan Airlines will offer 50 percent off on handling fees.
The new airport will have facilities for 10 international passenger airlines and the government hopes to record 1 million passengers during the first year and 6 million during the second year of operations.
Ratwatte said that the total cost for the construction of the new airport was approximately US Dollars 209 million.
A new five star hotel is also to be constructed near the airport to cater to the passengers and will be operated by a Malaysian company.
The airport is being constructed on 800 hectares of land under the first phase of the project.
The main terminal building, under construction will have facilities for 1000 passengers at peak time. It will be able to handle one million passengers annually.
Meanwhile when contacted by The Sunday Leader Civil Aviation Minister Priyankara Jayaratne said that the Katunayake airport will not be closed at any cost as a result of the opening of the new airport.
Environmentalists meanwhile said that the airport was constructed causing serious violations to environmental laws. Coordinator of the Green Movement, Banduranga Kariyawasam said that the airport is constructed blocking an elephant path way.
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UpulJ
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 25 Mar 2012 11:39:54 GMT Report for Abuse
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| Not a bad idea for budget airlines to explore the posibility of making a stopover for bunkers and promoting Sri Lankan services to airline industry... -) |
p007
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 25 Mar 2012 11:47:28 GMT Report for Abuse
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the government has ordered the Chinese construction company to complete construction in time for the President to open it on his birthday.
What if the Chinese cannot finish in time for the Birthday?
Will Wimal W start a boycott of the Chinese?
If the Chinese do manage to finish on the forced time, what is the guarantee that the construction will be solid and meet all standards of a modern Air port?
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ThinKing
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 25 Mar 2012 11:55:44 GMT Report for Abuse
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The Mattala international airport is scheduled to be opened on November 18 this year, the day the President celebrates his birthday and third anniversary since he took office for the second term.
what a retard!
Edited By - ThinKing - 25 Mar 2012 11:56:13 GMT |
Aani
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25 Mar 2012 12:07:55 GMT Report for Abuse
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| Aani Enterprises invite you to submit names for airports, ports and stadia. Ranilthuma is going to rename everything before he welcomes OUR Queen for CHOGM:)) |
owls
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25 Mar 2012 12:17:05 GMT Report for Abuse
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In an attempt to woo international passenger airlines to the new Mattala international airport, President Mahinda Rajapaksa has decided to grant free landing and parking.
Hmmmmmmmmm......
Good but not good enough! How about,
Half price tickets for the expatriates and a free one day accomadation in a hotel on arrival. |
p007
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25 Mar 2012 12:20:00 GMT Report for Abuse
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Coordinator of the Green Movement, Banduranga Kariyawasam said that the airport is constructed blocking an elephant path way.
For a man who has all but broken the Elephant Party, Blocking the elephant path way is no big deal |
charlie1965
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 25 Mar 2012 12:21:02 GMT Report for Abuse
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If the Chinese do manage to finish on the forced time, what is the guarantee that the construction will be solid and meet all standards of a modern Air port?
OMG, what will happen in case of another rock growing inside the Airport?
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Irun
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25 Mar 2012 12:25:49 GMT Report for Abuse
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| Mahinda and team needs airports in case they need them to escape? |
p007
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25 Mar 2012 12:27:08 GMT Report for Abuse
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Meanwhile when contacted by The Sunday Leader Civil Aviation Minister Priyankara Jayaratne said that the Katunayake airport will not be closed at any cost as a result of the opening of the new airport.
That depends on a lot of things and how willing are the airlines to land at Hambantota. In any case, closing down the Katunayake Air port is not something that can be done by a mere wish and it could take years, may be dozens of years, before the new airport can prove itself. Will this government continue to be in power for another decade, leave alone dozens of years?
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25 Mar 2012 12:31:23 GMT