With Sri Lanka aiming for a golden double of one million tourists and one million US dollars in revenue from tourism, and the country targeting nearly two billion US dollars in foreign direct investments and many developments taking place in Hambantota, a second airport was a crying need for almost a decade. Several new airlines too want to include Sri Lanka in their radar while the existing operators want to add capacity; hence, a second airport was a long-felt need.

Though a second airport was discussed for many years, lack of finances and proper planning was a gray area. Finally, President Mahinda Rajapaksa secured a loan of US$ 190 million from the Chinese government to get the project off the ground.

Realising the importance of this project and its financial viability, Airport and Aviation Services of Sri Lanka, motivated by its Chairman Prasanna Wickramasuriya, also invested US$ 19 million for the project to get off the ground.

The construction of Sri Lanka’s second international airport at Mattala is right on track and would be ready by the end of this year. Aviation Minister Priyankara Jayaratne is also keen that this project is completed on schedule and is monitoring the progress and wooing investors and airlines.

Model of Mattala Airport

The biggest advantage this airport has is sea and air cargo transshipment with the Hambantota Port a few kilometres away. The proposed International Container Terminal with all modern facilities is another advantage to develop Hambantota as a cargo hub, opening many opportunities to investors.

Investment opportunities also exist in direct aviation related ventures such as aircraft MROs, aircraft painting, and flying schools as well as in related trades such as hospitality, tourism, freight forwarding and courier services.

The Mattala airport will also stress on having 60 percent of flights for cargo and 40 percent for passengers; these ratios will also be increased with the passage of time.

Hence, the airport will be used as a principal cargo hub where vegetable and fruit exporters in southern Sri Lanka will get an opportunity to export their perishable produce to the Gulf with the minimum transit times. Tourists who will arrive in Mattala will also have minimum transit times to holiday destinations such as Nuwara Eliya and Arugam Bay.

Environment friendly

Chairman Wickramasuriya said the airport would be the only environment friendly airport in South Asia and the Government would be targeting “Green Status” as well.

The airport, in the first stage, would have an 800-hectare block of land while the second phase will be built on the remaining 1,200 hectares. The new airport will target the arrival of a million passengers annually and the runway will accommodate even the state-of-the-art A-380 aircraft, which will be 3,500 feet in length and 75 metres in width.

The progress of the cargo building

The main areas that are included for the airport are passenger terminal building and control tower, cargo building, fire and rescue facility, navigational and landing aids, visual aids and airfield lighting, meterological equipment, water supply and fire fighting system, power supply, waste disposal, car park and access roads, telecommunication and landscaping.

Construction of external access roads, external water supply pipe lines, two power sub-stations, a main station and fire service pumping station is now in progress. The construction of a sewerage treatment plant is also progressing. The construction work is carried out in accordance with international standards in the airport and aviation industry such as ICAO specifications for Code 4F.

Under the second phase, airport and aviation sector related facilities will be established.

Luxury hotel

Accordingly, a servicing and repairing centre for aircraft, hotel and recreational facilities, a pilot training centre, aircraft maintenance hub, a private jet parking hub, technical training centres, a full length parallel taxiway and other facilities will be established. The construction work of a 200-room luxury hotel near second international airport in Mattala was launched under the patronage of Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa, Minister Priyankara Jayaratne and Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa. This is the first star-class hotel to be constructed in the area and is to be followed by more hotels to cater to the tourists and visitors to the other projects in the district.

Progress of the control tower

“After the construction of the airport, one million passenger transactions are expected annually through the airport. The expected air cargo transaction rate per annum is 45,000 mt. while the expected aircraft movements rate will be 30,000 per annum. The airport will provide around 2,000 direct employment and a considerable number of indirect employment opportunities, Minister Jayaratne said.

He said in a bid to make Mattala more viable, they have already accepted proposals to set up pilot training schools and aircraft maintenance and repair facilities. SriLankan Airlines Chairman Nishantha Wickramasinghe said they would establish an aircraft maintenance centre along with an international player. Minister Jayaratne said they have already received many positive inquiries from local investors about launching more domestic flights to Jaffna and Trincomalee. “We are currently evaluating these proposals,” he said.

The Minister said Mahinda Chinthana clearly spells out that Sri Lanka would be made a regional aviation hub and that the airport was a key to achieving this target. He said their aim, as spelt Mahinda Chinthana, is to make Sri Lanka an aviation hub and the opening of the second international airport in Mattala would take the country closer towards this goal.

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Qatar Airways, one of the five star airlines in the world, has consented to operate flights to the country’s second international airport at Hambantota from next year. Aviation Minister Priyankankara Jayaratne said they had discussion in this regard with Qatar authorities recently who responded positively in this regard. He said that in addition, Fly Dubai, a budget airline operating from Abu Dhabi will also be operating flights to the country’s second international airport in Mattala.

Deccan Aviation from Sri Lanka has also spelled out plans to launch cargo flights based from the proposed Hambantota International Airport (HIA).

Meanwhile, SriLankan Airlines CEO Kapila Chandrasena said that they are keen in getting involved in the cargo and ground handling sectors as well as take over the catering business at the Mattala Airport which is expected to get off the ground end of the year.

He said that the national carrier SriLankan Airlines installed a flight simulator in Colombo last year to train pilots, flying narrow bodied aircraft. “We are hoping to acquire an additional wide bodied simulator this year which is likely to be installed in Mattala,” he said. With the commissioning of the domestic airport in the Colombo International Airport Chandrasena also mulled plans of Mihin Lanka operating internal flights to Mattala. “SriLankan is also looking at taking over some of the operations such as catering in Ratmalana which is to be upgraded as a City Airport,” he added.

He also disclosed that for the first time the airline is also looking at installing self check in kiosks at the Colombo Airport.

Chandrasena who is also the CEO of budget airline Mihin said that this year they would go on a major expansion drive in all sectors and target to have a fleet of 27 aircraft and five air taxis. He said that the 2012 budget allocated a financial injection of US $ 100 million each for a period of five years for Mihin Lanka’s investment plans.

Commenting on the national carrier profits, he said that if the oil prices which has increased by over 27 percent remains stable they should be able to show profits from 2014.

Airport and Aviation Services Limited (AASL) Chairman Prasanna Wickramasuriya said that the building of the US $ 190 million Hambantota Airport is on schedule. He said that they have already contracted a hotel to build an airport hotel and request for proposals are being called to woo investors to the HIA Project. “The HIA will also offer a tax free investment zone and they are trying to get international airliner servicing companies, training schools and other support services to start up businesses in the proposed zone.

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Construction work of Shangri-La’s resort in Hambantota is to be started later this month.  Meanwhile, the launching of Shangri-La’s flagship venture in Galle Face will be held in February.

 

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Sri Lanka takes the foremost place in completing the reconstruction of infrastructure damaged by the tidal waves out of all the countries affected by the tsunami, said A H M Azwer M P and Member of Parliament Council, speaking at a religious ceremony conducted jointly by the Madrasathul Aroosiya and the Borella Ahadiya Association held at the Aroosiya hall, Maligakanda, Colombo 10 on National Safety Day.

The ceremony marked the recital of Yaseen, Fathiha and Du’a in memory of all the people who lost their lives as a result of the tsunami.

Azwer said when the tsunami hit the country in 2004, President Mahinda Rajapaksa was the Prime Minister. “Even against many obstacles placed on him at that time, he travelled in all affected areas and gallantly afforded all assistance to the suffering masses.

“Hambantota is a glaring example of how he galvanized international support and put up several housing schemes to accommodate a large number of people who were rendered homeless,” he said.

Two or three families occupying a single unit prior to the tsunami were given separate houses. Muslim families in Hambantota were beneficiaries of this well-planned resettlement scheme of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

“Certain political forces were spreading rumours in the country during elections alleging that the President denied Muslims of their entitlements. Nothing could be further from the truth. The Muslim community, as much as other communities, were the true beneficiaries of the benevolent services of the President,” he said.

He said, “seeing is believing, and if anybody visits Hambantota, they would surely believe the facilities now being enjoyed by the people occupying these newly planned Tsunami housing schemes.”

Azwer also paid a tribute to the pioneers of the Aroosiya Madrasa, namely Dr Shuhaib Thaika Alim Saheb and the late Munsoor S Deen, Marzook S Deen, M S M Hamza, T K Marso Quraish and Buhary Hamza.

Al Haj Shibly Hashim presided. Hassim Omar, Director, I T N, Al Haj Maulavi Hassan Mowlana, President, Co-ordinator of Islamic religious affairs were also present.

A two minutes silence was observed in memory of the Tsunami victims. Religious recitals were conducted by Moulavi Ahamed Shab and Moulavi A J M Aadil.

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Colombo Engineering, involved in ship repairing for more than three decades, is looking at setting up a ship repair facility in Hambantota.

Kiran Atapattu

Colombo Engineering, CEO Kiran Atapattu said the focus now is in the Ruhunu Magampura harbour and they are looking at exploiting this situation.

He said they are looking to first set up a regional office and then move some of their operations to Hambantota.

“This is an area where we see tremendous potential in the future,” he said.

Commenting on the Hambantota Port project he said that although negative publicity stating that the project was a white elephant and a failure was politically motivated and it has proved negative.

“The investment made for the Hambantota Port was around US $ 360 million and today the Ports Authority has been able to secure investments to the tune of US $750 million,” he said.

Atapattu said these are all private sector companies not only from Sri Lanka but also from Hong Kong, India and Pakistan. “If they did not have faith would they have invested there?” he asked.

Atapattu who has set an unmatched record by winning 46 top national awards said a second international port for the country was something the shipping industry was demanding for the past three decades since the Colombo Port was getting more congested and waiting time for vessels to enter the Port was getting longer.

“This was taking the competitiveness of the Colombo Port and with Hambantota in place Colombo will get more revenue,”

Having won his first award as the emerging entrepreneur in 1977 he said that the success for winning was sheer dedication and on time delivery which is a must for any business to move ahead.

The business community is happy and is thanking President Mahinda Rajapaksa for ending the war and also lifting the emergency helping to attract more foreign direct investments.

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Police have recovered the firearm suspected to have been used in the shooting that left a British tourist dead in Tangalle on December 25, Police Spokesman SP Ajith Rohana told  short while ago.

He stated that the firearm was a T56 assault rifle and that it was recovered from the scene of the shooting.

Chairman of the Tangalle Pradeshiya Sabha, who was wanted in connection to the killing of a British tourist, surrendered himself to the police last night

The foreigner was assaulted and murdered by group of individuals during a party at a resort in Tangalle at around 3am on December 25. The body of the victim reportedly bore wounds inflicted using sharp objects and also gunshot wounds.

Two suspects had turned themselves over to the police last night while several other suspects involved in the murder are still at large.

The Tangalle Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman had reportedly been present at the time of the incident and was suspected to be involved.

The British tourist’s wife, who was also attacked, is currently being treated at the ICU of the Karapitiya Hospital.

The victim, Khuram Shaikh is a volunteer for the International Committee of the Red Cross at the Gaza Strip.

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Tributes have been paid to a “committed” Red Cross worker who died after being attacked on Christmas Day while on holiday on Sri Lanka.

Kuram Shaikah Zaman, 32, was working for the International Red Cross when he was killed in the tourist resort of Tangalle.

The physiotherapist from Manchester was the manager of the Red Cross’s physical rehabilitation programme in Gaza, providing prosthetics for people who have lost limbs, the International Committee of the Red Cross said.

A spokeswoman for the Jerusalem office of the ICRC said the organisation was “grieved”.

She said: “We do confirm he was a work colleague in Gaza. He was a physiotherapist and the manager of our physical rehabilitation project.

“He went on holiday to Sri Lanka with a colleague and unfortunately this has happened.

“We are deeply shocked and the International Committee of the Red Cross is grieved by the loss.

“He was a very committed member of the Red Cross team in Gaza, the West Bank and Jerusalem.”

Mr Zaman and a Russian woman were reportedly attacked following an argument with a man at an hotel.

Four men have been arrested in connection with the incident.

They apparently include Sampath Chandra Pushpa Vidanapathirana, 24, the chairman of Tangalle village council.

A post-mortem revealed that Mr Zaman, who is believed to be a British national of Israeli origin who was working in the Gaza Strip, had been attacked with a sharp weapon and shot.

The Russian woman, named as 23-year-old Victoria Alexandrovna, is said to be in intensive care with serious injuries.

Tangalle is a popular tourist destination around 100 miles south of the capital Colombo.

The Foreign Office said: “Next of kin have been informed and we are providing consular assistance.”

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Bundala National Park is just as close and easy to visit from the town of Tissamaharama as Yala National Park. The difference? Well, at Yala there was a gridlock of jeeps to watch the leopard sleep on the rock. At Bundala we did not see half a dozen other jeeps our entire visit. We did the afternoon to sunset safari at Yala and the early morning safari at Bundala and I was very happy with both experiences.

Bundala will thrill birders but you do not have to be a birder to enjoy it. The first thing we did on entering the park was watch a big bull elephant walk across the track, take a drink from the rangers tank, walk back across the track in front of us and then stand in the scrub just beside us blowing dust (elephant sun screen) over his back. Amazing!

I called Bundala a more intimate safari because we were so close up and personal with some of the wildlife. At one point the jeep had to stop for the troop of Langurs sitting in our path. Langurs are elegant, not naughty like Macaques and do not interact with people. I was taking wonderful close up photos of a mother holding her baby until she turned her back on me huffily, as if to say, “Don’t you stare, she’s MY baby”.

We watched thrill-seeking Langurs in the water edge where they were at risk from crocodiles, the lure of the tender shoots was too strong. We saw a dead baby Macaque being eaten by a raptor standing beside the track. It was like being in a wildlife documentary!

The birds were just wonderful.

The safaris are so easy. There are comfortable deluxe jeeps that pick you up from your hotel and drop you back in time for lunch. They are worth the money.

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His Excellency Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jabr Al-Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs in Qatar together with Hon. Yousf Kamal, Finance Minister of Qatar, His Excellency the Ambassador of Qatar in Sri Lanka and an Investment delegation held bilateral discussion with Hon Basil Rajapaksa, Minister of Economic Development at the Colombo Hilton on 13th December 2011.

Hon. Minister warmly welcomed the delegation re-iterating the strong bonds of friendship that united the two countries and highlighted the new developments emerging in Sri Lanka with the eradication of terrorism and noted that with the unprecedented degree of political stability that is presently prevailing in Sri Lanka, President Rajapaksa has emphasized the need for accelerated economic development and such benefits of economic development to be distributed equitably.

Qatar Prime Minister said that Qatar is very keen to develop and strengthen the Economic Ties with Sri Lanka capitalizing on the already existing strong Political relation. The Prime Minister while emphasizing the Keen Interest in establishing a closer Economic Ties with Sri Lanka underlines the importance of engage in large scale economic cooperation with Sri Lanka to strengthen the strong and long standing relationship exist between the two countries .During the discussions Prime Minister stated that large number of Sri Lankan professionals in the field of Education, Nursing Accountancy and Engineering are presently working in Qatar in a contented environment.

During the meeting minister Basil Rajapaksa also stated that with the dawn of peace there are three things the country needs most – investment, trade and tourism. He further said that the country that Marco Polo once described as the best Island of its size is once again open for Business and for leisure and Invited more and more Qatar Tourist to Sri Lanka and Qatar enterprises to Invest in Sri Lanka .Describing Sri Lanka’s potential in Tourism and Investment he further said that Sri Lanka is in the ideal location in the world map and the best destination and also at the best time of its post independence era for Investment.Minister Rajapaksa called on the Qatari Government to particularly look into investing in the tourism sector in Sri Lanka which is experiencing an unprecedented boom. He also stated that there is a concerted drive to increase tourism infrastructure in the country that includes five star hotels, resorts and facilities for leisure activities specifically targeting Middle Eastern tourists. In this regard Minister Rajapaksa said Qatari investors could favourably look at Sri Lanka as a highly completive stable country for their investments. Prime Minister Hamad Bin Jassim Al-Thani informed that the Qatari Government and the private sector would be much interested in being a part of Sri Lanka’s rapid economic progress.

Elaborating further on the emphasis given to develop Sri Lanka as a key Tourist Destination ,Minster brought to the attention of the delegation the areas for cooperation and investment in the field of Tourism by highlighting Tourism zones that are available for Investment. Minister invited Qatar Entrepreneurs to look positively in investing in Tourism Sector .Minister also pointed out that Sri Lanka Tourism has identified Gulf Region as a key Market to attract tourists to Sri Lanka and the Qatar’s presence in Sri Lanka would positively contribute to bring increasing number of Middle East Tourists to Sri Lanka. The highlight of the meeting was that the Qatar Delegation led by the Hon Prime Minister was well focused on the areas that Qatar wants to engaged in Sri Lanka and shown a solid interest in investing in the Kalpitiya Tourism Zone, Colombo ,Negombo and Hambantota for Tourism Related Projects . In the Colombo city Qatar delegation shown a keen interest in undertaking a mega infrastructure project encompassing a shopping mall ,residential complex ,hotel ,car park .In Kalpitiya Tourism Zone having visited the Zone on the previous day Delegation expressed their interest in having investment in the zone. Apart from Tourism Prime Minster also highlighted the Qatari intention in investing in the Colombo Stock Exchange and supporting the upgrading of the Colombo Stock Exchange where Sri Lanka side agreed to study the proposal made by the Hon Minster of Finance in Qatar .During the discussions Qatar also stated its willingness to invest in a Toll Road that would Link Katunayake with Kalpitiya. Inland Fisheries and Cut Flower sectors were also highlighted for potential investment by the Qatari delegation. Hon Minster Stated that with the dawn of peace the Air Connectivity between Sri Lanka and the rest of the world has increased enormously with 18 new Airlines arriving in Sri Lanka and this has resulted in increasing the Air Cargo capacity for Import Export Trade especially for fresh goods such as Fish and Agricultural products and urged Qatar to make use of this opportunity to further strengthen the trade ties between the two countries. Stating the Importance of Air connectivity between the two countries Qatar Prime Minister stated the importance of increasing the Flight Frequencies between Colombo and Doha where Sri Lankan side positively agreed that would benefits both Tourist and the Sri Lankan Immigrant work force. Qatar .PM further stated that although the visit to the island was short this visit has helped to build a solid understanding on the potential of Sri Lanka and the visit will act as a precursor to the early next year’s visit to Sri Lanka by His Highness the Emir of Qatar that will pave the way for a beginning of a new era of economic cooperation between Sri Lanka and Qatar .Minister Basil Rajapaksa Hailing the meeting as a promising start to this effect agreed to take positive steps in bringing in Sri Lanka Qatar Economic Cooperation to new heights .

Finally Hon Minister recalling the friendly and multifaceted relations existing between the two countries wished the visiting delegation a pleasant and productive stay in Sri Lanka. Dr Sarath Amunugama Hon Susil Premjayanth , Dr P B Jayasundera, Secretary Ministry of Finance and Planning and Ministry of Economic Development officials of the Ministry of Economic Development also Participated at the discussions .

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The Road Development Authority stated that the construction work of the southern Expressway from Matara to Hambantota will commence next year.

 

Chairman of the RDA R.W.R. Pemasiri said that steps are being taken to form a plan in this regard.

He said that the construction activities of the Galle to Matara road on the Southern Expressway are currently underway.

He further noted that the construction of the entire highway is scheduled to conclude by the beginning of 2013.

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With the aim to conserve rare plants native to the dry zone of the country, Sri Lanka is establishing a dry zone botanical garden in the Southern Province.

The 120-hectare Dry Zone Botanical Garden being established in Mirijjavila in the Hambantota district is now nearing completion, the administrator of the garden Sumith Ekanayake says.

According to the administration, the main objective of establishing the new botanic garden is the ex-situ conservation of dry and arid zone plants. Its location on the Colombo-Kataragama main road will also attract a large number of local visitors.

Dry zone represents almost one third of Sri Lankan forest ecosystem, and 95 percent of its vegetation has been lost in the last 20 years alone.

The garden will also provide opportunities for ecotourism and economic development in this area and to model dry zone landscape improvement.

Under the first phase of the project 50 hectares have been planted with about 300 rare plant varieties exclusive in the dry zone. A special Palmyra garden will also be established in 125 acres, Ekanayake says.

The government has spent 100 million rupees on the initial work of the projects that is estimated to cost 350 million rupees, according to the state-run radio SLBC.

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