President calls for strengthening country’s aviation, maritime sectors

Chaminda Perera

President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday said Sri Lanka’s independence would not have been threatened, if previous governments strengthened its maritime and aviation sectors.

“If our friends in power thought of strengthening the aviation and maritime fields, it would not have been easy to drop dhal to our country,” he said.

The President was speaking at the centenary celebration of the civil aviation sector of the country, at Temple Trees yesterday. The cancellation of four new postage stamps also took pace to mark this occasion and the first day cover was presented to President by Postmaster General Rohana Abeyratne. The President said Japanese planes carried out sorties on Colombo during World War II, while the LTTE did the same thing at the height of terrorism.

He was of the view that politicians made a mistake by paying less attention to strengthening the country’s aviation and maritime sectors.

Civil Aviation Minister Priyankara Jayaratne presented a replica of the first aircraft in Sri Lanka to the President in appreciation of his services to the civil aviation sector. President Rajapaksa described how the country was affected with the attack on the Bandaranaike International Airport by LTTE terrorists.

The President said certain groups launched a massive campaign against Sri Lanka in the aftermath of the attack. “They issued adverse travel advisory’s against Sri Lanka which had negative effects on our tourism industry. This situation was exacerbated with the terrorist BIA attack”, he said. President Rajapaska added that the situation has completely changed now and tourists have started visiting Sri Lanka with the dawn of peace.

“According to latest reports, Sri Lanka has become the safest tourist destination in the region. SriLankan Airlines would also be among the top 10 airlines in the world, if it works with dedication and perseverance”, he added.

He added Sri Lanka should have to produce experts in the field of aviation and aerospace,if it wants to leap forward in the satellite industry.

President Rajapaksa said the country’s airline achieved more victories and development during the last few years.

“We should get away from the poor mentality as a nation. We will hand over the country to the next generation after developing the aviation and maritime fields. These opportunities are no longer confined to the children of pampered class. The children of rural villagers should grasp these opportunities,” he said.

The President said there was a time in which country’s airline was sold for a song to a fraudster. The President said he as the Head of State had to face a predicament in travelling by the country’s airline due to this situation. He said the Head of the State was refused permission to travel by national carrier due to this fraudulent act. President Rajapaksa said Sri Lanka has started to think of its aviation and maritime industries after a lapse of over 50 years under the Mahinda Chinthanaya policy framework.

He said the government’s policy of conquering the air is clearly mentioned in the Mahinda Chinthan policy framework. The President said that his government took prompt action to bring the national carrier - SriLankan Airlines under the government’s fold. “It has become a money spinning institution”, he said.

“The Aviation industry plays a pivotal role in making the country the Wonder of Asia as enshrined in the Mahinda Chinthanaya. There was an era in which people thought that air travel is a luxury and it was limited to a section of the society,” he said.

He said air travel has become cheaper and easier mode of transport today and more than two million of Sri Lankan expatriate workers use airlines. The President said the highest income derived by SriLankan Airlines is from Sri Lankan expatriate workers.