Mattala Airport opens on March 18

Raja Waidyasekera, - Tissamaharama special corr

The second international airport in Sri Lanka will be opened by President Mahinda Rajapaksa in Mattala on March 18, Airport and Civil Aviation chairman PrasannaWickramasuriya said.

The chairman said with the opening of the port and airport in Hambantota, the district has been opened to the world and would help develop tourism and tourism related activities in the district and the country.

Meanwhile, Hambantota Urban Council Mayor Eraj Fernando said the Hambantota sea port has become an income earner and the criticism leveled by the opposition has proved futile.

He said so addressing the monthly meeting of the Hambantota Urban Council.

Fernando said 30 ships have already arrived at the Hambantota port.

Deputy Chairman U K G Dissanayaka said Hambantota Assistant Government Agent Leonard Wolf who was also a reputed author, proposed a sea port in Hambantota.

He said as a result of the seaport and airport, the value of land in the district has increased.

Opposition leader Ayub Khan also spoke.