(Mirror) - The UNP has questioned whether the Mattala International airport would be profitable, in relation to the huge amount the government had invested on the project.
General Secretary of UNP MP Tissa Attanayake spoke thus while speaking at a media briefing held in Colombo yesterday (05).
The matter also has been discussed in the UNP parliamentary group meeting yesterday (05) at the committee room in the parliamentary complex.
Leader of UNP Ranil Wickremesinghe has stated in the meeting that the government should reveal the authentic information regarding the Mattala International airport without manipulating media and feeding the public with misleading information.
Ranil Wickramasinghe further stated that even though the government claims that the proposed Mattala airport to be modern and attractive it has already lead to many problems in the country.
The opposition leader criticized the construction of the new airport stating that severe corruptions and waste occurred during the completion of the project have increased prevailing economic issues.
As the government does not have a plan to recover the debts which were acquired to construct the new airport, it will lead to problems in the future, he has added.
The number of flights arriving at Bandaranaike International airport is not enough to be divided between two airports and the government’s decision to temporarily shut down Bandaranaike International airport with the hope of providing more opportunities to Mattala airport is unwise, stated Ranil Wickremesighe.
He also found fault with the government for spending enormous amounts of tax payers’ money and taking media institution heads on the sightseeing tour to Mattala Airport.
Pointing out that the same tour could be done in a more economical manner, Wickremesinghe said that it was another attempt by the government to buy the media.
He suggested to the members of the parliamentary group meeting that they should take immediate measures to reveal the truth about Mattala airport and how the government is making an effort to buy the media and mislead public with false information.
His suggestion was unanimously agreed by the parliamentary group.
