Mattala International Airport : Dream or reality ?

The Sri Lankan government is now planning to build the country’s second international airport in Mattala area of Hambantota, near to the hometown of the now President.
Although it is really good to have a second airport, the ultimate question is – will this be really built ?
The government had previously allocated an area at Wirawila, also in the southern part of the country, for the new airport, but the project was finally scrapped for environmental concerns after years of lobbying. However, the AASL – the operating body of Sri Lanka’s airports – now states that they have earmarked the relevant lands and have now received the approval for environmental concerns. The government run body also stated that no agricultural lands or populated areas will be affected by the project. They hope to build the airport mainly for cargo traffic, which will be a REALLY NICE idea given that the airport is built closer to the new Hambantota Sea Port which is also under construction and that the new method of air freighting has become a part by sea party by air method in order to offset high costs. The annual passenger expectation is only one million.
AASL also stated that the aviation minister, elder brother of the current president, is keen to get the project going on and will inititate the project within two months for a planned 2011 completion.
However, government must make it a key priority to upgrade the infrastructure at the existing Bandaranaike Airport ( CMB ), which suffers from its shorter runway which makes it impossible for a fully loaded widebody airliner to depart to Europe, specially during daylight hours.
If this happens, it will be really good – but will it ?

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