News
Government shopping for ideas on how to utilise Mattala profitably
View(s):Director General of Civil Aviation H.M.C. Nimalsiri, said said last week, government was looking abroad for ideas on how best use could be made of the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA).
“We are going to call for expressions of interest to find to what kind of proposals people have in mind and see how it (Mattala) can be made use of,” he said.
He added, at present, there were only limited ideas as to how the facility could be profitably used. By calling for expressions of interest internationally he hoped new proposals could be generated.
He added the process would include publication of advertisements in foreign aviation magazines which are likely to cost the country considerably.
“Basically, we have spent some money and we have to spend some more money to make sure it (Mattala) can be made use of,” Mr Nimalsiri said.
Despite various concessions being granted to attract international airlines to the MIRA, they have not proved successful and the US$ 210 million MRIA has proved to be a white elephant ever since it was opened in an extravagant ceremony in March 2013.
During that period the airport was used mainly by the two state carriers -SriLankan Airlines and Mihin Lanka. At present, FlyDubai operates a daily flight to Mattala while Rotana Jet operates flights twice a week.