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Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport declared open

Sunday, 17 March 2013 15:14
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Update : The Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) was declared open by the President  today (March 18) , when a  a special SriLankan Airlines flight carrying President Mahinda Rajapaksa  landed at Sri Lanka's newest international airport.

According to local media reports President Rajapaksa arrived on board the 'City of Magam Ruhuna' SriLankan Airline UL226 with First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa and other dignitaries.

 

The President, arriving as the first passenger to the new airport, declared open the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport early this morning.

 

He unveiled the plaque to mark the opening and signed the golden book as the first visitor. Thereafter the President inspected the airport accompanied by ministers and other officials.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See related story below

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 Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport to open with pomp and pageantry

Sri Lanka’s second aerial gateway to the outside world, built at a staggering 26 billion rupees, will be opened with pomp and pageantry today (March 18). Built with Chinese assistance, the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) is situated close to an elephant infested jungle stretch. It is 43 kilometres from Hambantota.

 
At the auspicious time of 9 a.m, President Mahinda Rajapaksa will declare open the airport in the presence of dignitaries from China as well as members of the diplomatic corps based in Colombo.Among the flights scheduled to arrive and depart on the first day of the opening of Sri Lanka’s second international airport are a specially chartered aircraft carrying passengers from the USA as well as an Air Arabia flight from Sharjah and a Fly Dubai flight from Dubai, Airport and Aviation Services (AAS) Chairman Prasanna Wickramasuriya said.
 
SriLankan Airlines has scheduled flights to four destinations to operate from the MRIA. Mihin Air will also operate a weekly flight to Buddha Gaya from MRIA starting this week.SriLankan Airlines Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kapila Chandrasena told the Sunday Times that SriLankan flights to and from Beijing, Shanghai via Bangkok, Riyadh and Male will operate from the MRIA.
 

Comments  

 
#6 Tsmilan 2013-03-20 13:22
This is waste of money. Why the hell we need to go to Mattala and come back to Colombo. Rajapaksa filling his pocket, making profit for his family business.
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#5 Chatura 2013-03-19 13:02
WE NEED FOOOOOD, PLEASE, PLEASE!
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#4 san 2013-03-19 03:37
Hi, I am a Sri Lankan Tamil. Well done, the president doing a great job.
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#3 kithsiri family ita 2013-03-18 19:36
We are so happy for the opening of the new Mattala international Airport of Sri Lanka.
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#2 ThinkTank 2013-03-18 16:07
Great Investment for Country!
Travel Time:
1. Mattala to Galle = 3 Hours
2. Mattala to Colombo = 5 Hours
3. Mattala to Kandy = 9 Hours
4. Mattala to Dambulla = 12 Hours.
We expect considerable ROI for this investment. Please keep up this kind of investment decision to make Sri Lanka a prosperous country.
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#1 Mahiman 2013-03-17 21:22
Best wishes for the opening, and may the venture be a great success. It has great strategic importance as a backup to Katunayake, but only time will tell whether the location as the second airport is commercially the right one. It's good that the initial design is compact, with no doubt, a capability of expansion worked in.
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