AASL Chairman in 2013 Prasanna Wickramasuriya

Friday, 18 March 2022 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga

Aviation and Export Zones Development State Minister V. Chanaka

Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Chairman Major General (Rtd.) G.A. Chandrasiri

In marking the ninth anniversary of the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport, Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga, Aviation and Export Zones Development State Minister V. Chanaka, and Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd. Chairman Major General (Rtd.) G. A. Chandrasiri issued the following messages.

Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said: “Today at this special moment of celebrating nine years since producing the second international airport of the nation with the intention of getting energetic contribution from the aviation sector to achieve the future development targets, I take this opportunity to thank those who contributed immensely for building up the international airport.”

“I believe the air transport sector received its pioneering position due to the fact that the decisions were taken without hindering the challenges of COVID-19. We have already prepared the necessary developmental and business plans as the line ministry to convert the Mattala International Airport as a regional centre following the His Excellency Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s vistas of prosperity.”

“During the difficult time period of COVID-19, we were able to take part in strengthening the export economy by using the Mattala airport for COVID-19 rescue flight operation, vessel crew transferring, scheduled, cargo and charter flight operations.”

Aviation and Export Zones Development State Minister V. Chanaka in his message said: “We are confident that in future Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport will play its key role to strengthen the national economy with the fully-fledged core competency it has gained due to its geographical location. With the support of Magampura Harbour and as a tourist destination, this challenge will be a realistic target to achieve. We have already given our major attention to make a considerable contribution to the export economy. The airport became a hot topic in the discussions in naval fields as a crew transferring point.

Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd. Chairman Major General (Rtd.) G.A. Chandrasiri said: Today it is a strong strength for the aviation industry that Mattala International Airport has developed in a way it can give services comfortably to any type of aircraft available in the world at present. We realised this fact during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic. When Bandaranaike International Airport serves as the key international airport of Sri Lanka, Mattala Airport made its active contribution in silence during the last nine years for the aviation industry. Many foreign airlines are in the process of negotiations to make the Mattala airport as one of their destinations.