Passenger Terminal of Mattala Airport gets off the ground

The Speaker of Parliament Chamal Rajapakse said that 50 percent of the construction work of Mattala International Airport has now been completed.

The construction of the passenger terminal commenced on 25 April under the patronage of the Speaker of the House.  He said that the largest aircraft in the world can be landed in the runway of this airport, and it is expected that one million passengers per year will use this airport.

Addressing a media conference at Mattala airport premises yesterday Minister Priyankara Jayaratne said that a commercial aircraft servicing center will be establishing centering the airport. Presently only Dubai, Singapore and Hong Kong airports have this facility. The new center will have facility for servicing 15 aircrafts a year. Mattala International Airport is one of the largest projects being carried out by the government. This Project which will cover 2,000 hectares will cost US$ 209 Million and the first phase will be completed by mid 2012.

The project was launched by President Mahinda Rajapaksa on 27 November, last year in line with the Greater Hambantota City Development Programme. The first flight is expected to land in this new airport by end of 2012 upon completion of the first phase of the project.