Attempt to shift Southern Airport location?

The government is going ahead with the US$125 million Weerawila Airport project due to be ready by 2010 amidst speculation that the site is to be shifted to a massive block of land in close proximity to Hambantota to benefit a prominent personality.

Secretary to the Ministry of Ports and Aviation D.T.P Collure rejected reports of a change in location, saying there was no such plan and didn’t even come up at a recent meeting on the development of Hambantota. Land clearance and other infrastructure development activities of the Weerawila Airport project are to be commenced shortly after a final decision is made on the level of compensation for some 360 families to vacate the homes at the proposed site which is a total of 1,160 hectares in extent.

A special discussion on Hambantota development including the airport project was held on Wednesday chaired by the new Minister of Ports Development and Aviation Chamal Rajapakse, Collure said.