MRIA- An airport with a vision

Professor Ranjith Bandara, Chairman, Sri Lanka Foundation Institute, interviewed by Daily News staffer Ishara Jayawardane

Sri Lanka has been running its aviation industry just by having one international airport.As a result, there was a huge opportunity cost. Until very recently, we had not properly studied our potential as an island located in a very strategic position in the Indian

Ocean. Why we need an international airport can be justified in many ways.

One would be a technical justification. The climatic conditions which we have in the Western Province sometimes do not allow the landing of a large number of aircrafts.Therefore, airlines used to land in the Maldives and airports near by. This was reported

in a feasibility study done by the Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau prior to the idea of setting up of the Airport in Mattala . Based on the weather patterns and the arrival of aircraft, it was pointed out that during certain times of the year aircraft found it difficult to land in the Katunayake International Airport. And as result we lost millions of rupees and no estimated statistics are available.

Therefore, it is a tremendous advantage to have a second international airport in a zone with different climatic conditions. Mattala would be an ideal location for this purpose. Having two airports in close proximity is also an advantage to handle emergency situations. Katunayake airport does not have enough space for future expansion. Mattala has a large area of unoccupied land which can be used for future expansion. It has already got 2000 hectares. We have to think years ahead. When we think of the potential of the aviation industry, it is not limited to passenger transport only. There are so many other related areas which can be developed. The Mattala airport is a modern airport. Its runaway is compatible with the latest Airbus A 380 aircraft. A jumbo aircraft of Airbus 330 type could also be landed at there. Only the first stage has so far been completed.

A balanced development

As you know, Hambantota is still an undeveloped area because it was neglected in the past. It is a national priority to have a balanced development right throughout the country. Therefore, having an airport in Mattala is justified from the perspective of

national development priorities. Major developments are linked to ports and airports.Take Colombo for an example. The Colombo harbor and the Katunayake International Airport became the hub of this development in the Western Province. Now the Western Province contributes 46 percent of our GDP. Things are changing now, but the fact remains that still over 45 percent of the contribution is coming from the Western Province whereas the other provinces in this country have not been properly developed.

Hambantota district is one of the least developed districts in the past. It is not just Hambantota but also the adjoining districts can greatly benefit from having an airport in Mattala. When we say adjoining areas, we are talking about 1/3 of the country. These

districts grow a lot of vegetables and fruits. Rather than bringing them to Colombo,these fruits and vegetables can be exported fresh from the Mattala airport. This airport will provide immense employment opportunities through industries, commerce,services, new businesses and open up markets for local produce. And it will encourage local producers to produce more. There will be a chain reaction.It will also have a tremendous impact on the tourist industry in the country. Some important tourist attractions are located within close proximity and package tours can be arranged to visit all those places within a short period of time. Time factor is important for tourists. Every tourist need not go through Colombo.

There is an important social aspect relating to regional development. Some 25 years ago there was a popular slogan particularly appealing to the youth - Kolombata Kiri,Apita Kekiri – which highlighted the disparity in the distribution of income between the metropolis and the periphery. It goes without saying that the dynamic regional development is the answer to some of the youth problems in the country.

Unemployment is prevalent in rural areas. Employment generation is another aspect of the Mattala airport. Initially there will be 2000 – 2500 direct employment and there will be more than 10000 indirect employment. Some technical colleges will be set up since we need more and more technically qualified people to run the business at the airport.We need more and more people to take care of the customers. The human resource development is an important aspect that we have to take care of. At the initial stage,this airport has the capacity to handle one million passengers. While being a catalyst for this country’s economic development, it will also generate a variety of employment opportunities.

Generating diverse business

Airports are not only meant to land the passenger aircrafts. Airports are meant to generate diverse business, commerce, trade, service opportunities around it. If you take Katunayake, there is also an industrial zone located nearby. Likewise, Mattala will also have a similar development since land is available. Take other countries. How many international airports do they have ?

There is a rumour going around that the government is planning to close down the Katunayake airport in order to boost up Mattala airport. This is a baseless slander. The government has categorically denied this claim. Katunayake has a capacity to handle 6 million passengers per year and due to the increase of tourists now it is handling seven and a half milion. The Mattala airport can handle only one million passengers.

So it is impossible to handle the incoming or outgoing passengers if you close down the Katunayake airport. Besides, the government has already undertaken the construction of an express way to Katunayake. The government’s plan is to link all the expressways in the country, and as a result, one can go from Katunayake to Mattala within a matter of a few hours.

wwThis is a grand strategy. I’ll take you back in history. During the Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa era our kings built not just one tank but several huge tanks. The development should be focused with an element of futurism. You should look at the immediate future as well as the distant future and plan accordingly. In my opinion, this airport has a vision. It is also a part of the government’s vision to make Sri Lanka the aviation hub of the region.