President visits Antonov manufacturing plant

President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday visited the Antonov aircraft manufacturing company in Ukraine and inspected how aircraft are being built.

President Rajapaksa focused special attention on Antonov 225 aircraft built in 1988. This cargo aircraft which can carry heavy cargo loads consisting six engines has been designed to carry space shuttles.

The Antonov 225 aircraft is the biggest aircraft ever built in the world to transport over-sized cargo upto 250,000 Kgs. The aircraft's total take off weight is 640,000 Kg.

The salient feature of this aircraft is that unloading can be done through front and rear doors .

First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa, External Affairs Minister Prof G.L. Peries, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga, Presidetial Secretariat Chief of Staff Gamini Senarath, Foreign Secretary Romesh Jayasinghe and Sri Lankan Ambassador in Russia Udayanga Weeratunga were also present.