‘MRIA to be Asia’s major airline hub’

Chamikara Weerasinghe

More airlines are currently planning to use Mattala Mahinda Rajapaksa International Airport. Many international airline giants have already met with country’s aviation authorities regarding arrangements to tarvel to and over Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA).

Air Arabia has agreed to operate non-stop services between Sharjah and Mattala beginning with the historic opening of the facility on March 18

Opening of a second international airport is a significant milestone for the country’s economic progress. It will play a key role in developing the tourism sector. “It will definitely boost Sri Lanka’s tourist arrivals,” says Airport and Aviation Services Chairman Prasanna Wickremasuriya.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has set a target of wooing 2.6 million tourist arrivals to the country by 2016 as against present one million tourists arriving at Katunayaka Bandaranaike International Airport every year.

“I think we can reach that target once we start international airline and cargo services and operations at MRIA . The airport will be a major airline hub in Asia,” he said.

Generating income

The new airport will have a multiplier effect on economy generating different types of income for communities. This will include business income, wage earnings, share earnings, rates and levy earnings.

The expectations and needs of visitors often lead to manifestation of new businesses. It paves the way for commercial activities. There will be employment opportunities for young people. As tourism grows, other sectors such as transport, agriculture , retailing and construction also grow. There will be plenty of opportunities for people in the Hambantota district to develop small businesses.

The establisment of a new airport often boost the collective ego of communities and it heightens local awareness and interest in commercial and cultural activities. It leads to revival of cultural activities through community pride.

Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport was built in a 2000 acre land , 15 kilometeres north of Hambantota. The airport has a 4000 meter long and 75 meter wide runway that can facilitate any big aircraft. It can facilitate the landing of the biggest arircraft avilable at present, Airbus-380.

Secure air routes

The airport has raised confidence of international airlines to use the Sri Lanka’s air space. “Airline companies prefer using safe air passage when they fly over to other countries. With the availability of the Mattala Rajapaksa Airport, the airline companies have expressed their interest to travel over Sri Lanka. The airlines are keen to use air routes that are secure and enable them to take action to land aircrafts in emergency stuations.The presence of the new airport cater to the needs of safety much longed-for by international airlines,” explained Airport and Aviation Services Chairman Prasanna Wickremasuriya.

“We have been having problems with international flights as with our lack of facilities to provide landing facilities. Some flights that come to Sri Lanka had to be diverted to land in other countries because of this. With two airports in the country, we will be able to do away with and minimize such inconveniences to other airlines in the future and reap maximum economic benefits to our country through improved air services” he pointed out.

Mahinda Rajapaksa International Airport is located in close proximity to the Hambanthota harbor. Actions are afoot to improve both air cargo and sea cargo services using the airport’s strategic location, he said.

“Action has been stepped up for the establishment of an air-sea transhipment hub with the Hambanthota harbor. Foreign investors are showing a lot of interst in this regard to acquiring a place for business,” said Wickremesuriya. We can now expect diverse foreign investment to gather momentum in the country as with plans for promoting an air-sea transhipment hub in Hambathota. This stants to play a key role in industrial development.

Location

Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport is located near four main agricultural provinces, the Sabaragamuwa, Eastern, Uva and Southern provinces. Therefore , Mattala can easily become the principle hub for vegetable anf fruit exports. The fruit and vegetable farmers in these regions and exporters will be able to export their goods and reap increased financial benefits thereof. Arrangement are now being made to export their propduce to the Gulf.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa launched Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport Project in November , 2009 in line with the Hambathota City Developmnet Program.

The strategic location of Hambathota is ideal for touism promotion. The foreigners can reach their desired destinations, such as Nuwara Eliya, Arugambe beach, Yala and Wilpaththu national parks within hours of their arrival at the airport. Transit times are less to these areas from Mattala Rajapaksa International airport than from the Bandaranaike International Airport.

The airport will stimulate development in the Southern, Eastern, Uva and Sabaragamuwa Provinces raising living standards of the public. It will be catalyst for infrastructure, trade, tourism and economic growth in the country.

Many governments have tried to construct a second international airport in the country from the time of independence. The concept of building a second international airport originated in 1938. It was built in keeping with Mahinda Chinthana manifesto of the government.