Mattala Airport To Become A Repair Shop
By Nirmala Kannangara

Mattala Airport. The government’s failure to achieve the anticipated targets from the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) over the past ten months has reportadly resulted in plans being drawn to make use of the airport by making it a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) center.

According to the Chairman of Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Limited, Prasanna J. Wickramasuriya, the proposed plan for the MRO center is a vital part if the country needs to become an aviation hub in the region.
“If we have a MRO center in the country we can repair and maintain not only our own Sri Lankan and Mihin Air aircraft but also could provide the service to the other regional airlines, which is a money spinning industry,” said Wickramasuriya.

However, inside sources from Airport and Aviation Services claim the possible reason behind this move is not to make the country an aviation hub but to cover the losses incurred by the Mattala airport as foreign airlines have rejected to land in Mattala.

“After investing Rs.209 million for a project that that is yet to bring revenue to the country over the past several months, the government is now trying to open a MRO center spending more money. Although it is good and profitable to have our own MRO center in the country, it is questionable whether foreign aircraft would come to Mattala for services or repairs taking a risk,” the sources added.

They further questioned the Airport and Aviation Services Limited (AASL) and SriLankan Airlines plans to get 24-30 flights per week to Mattala although only four airlines –SriLankan, Mihin and two foreign airlines are landing at Mattala but not any other airlines.

“Once we were told that Emirates and Qatar Airways have shown interest to land at Mattala airport because of its A330 and A380 compatible runway.

The AASL have said that they will not charge for grounding any airline but still airlines do not want this facility as they want to take their clients safely to their destinations,” the sources said.

However, Chairman AASL Wickramasuriya further explained as to how revenue could be gained once the proposed MRO center is opened.

“Once in six months aircraft have to be sent for maintenance, repair and for overhaul services. The closest MRO center for us is Singapore and there is no other MRO center in the region. We send our own fleet to Singapore and once we start our own MRO center we could save foreign exchange in millions and also could attract other regional airlines to the MRO center,” said Wickramasuriya.

When asked as to when the AASL plans to start the MRO center, Wickramasuriya said that they are yet to award the contract to the suitable party. “Once we call quotations we will give the contract to the suitable party. However I am not aware of how much this project would cost as we have not yet awarded the contract for any party,” said Wickramasuriya.

However Wickramasuriya did not make any comment when asked whether the plan to start a MRO center in Mattala was to cover up the losses Mattala airport is incurring since its opening. Wickramasuriya wanted The Sunday Leader to contact SriLankan Airlines for an answer to that question as he was not aware of details.

“You have to ask that question from SriLankan Airlines. I am not aware of it,” said Wickramasuriya.
All attempts to contact Aviation Minister Priyankara Jayaratne and SriLankan Airlines Chairman Nishantha Wickramasinghe for comments failed.

Construction of domestic airport in Sri Lanka's hill capital to start soon
Sun, Aug 4, 2013, 09:26 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

Aug 04, Colombo: Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa today ordered the relevant authorities to start the construction of a domestic airport in the hill capital of Kandy as soon as possible.

The President this morning visited the site proposed to construct the domestic airport in Kandy and inspected the plan for the structure.



A 35-acre plot of land in Theldeniya, Mahaberiatenna area has been set aside for the construction of the airport with a runway 1,200 meters long and 25 meters wide.
The President also advised the officials to carryout constructions while paying utmost attention to preserve the environment.

Kandy, the cultural capital of Sri Lanka with the world-famous Temple of Tooth is a major tourist destination next to the Sri Lankan capital Colombo. The construction of a domestic airport in Kandy is aimed at facilitating the city to reap maximum benefits of the booming tourism industry.

Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, Former Chief Minister of Central Province Sarath Ekanayake, and Air Force Commander Harsha Abeywickrema also participated.

(Photos by Nishanka de Silva)

Sri Lanka's state airline in MRO venture with Lufthansa Technik
07 Aug, 2013 10:13:30
Aug 07, 2013 (LBO) - State-run SriLankan Airlines will start operating a joint venture aircraft repair and maintenance organization (MRO) with Lufthansa Technik by July 2014, an official said.
SriLankan chief executive Kapila Chandrasena said the MRO is expected to earn revenues of 100 million US dollars a year, with an investment of 14 million US dollars in machinery and equipment.
The repair facility will be located at the Mattala international airport.
The facility will have four bays that can service Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 aircraft Chandrasena said.
The facility is expected to employ about 400 people and will help bring profits to SriLankan.