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Minister of Tourism, Hon. Prasanna Ranatunga says that a special concession package will be offered for airlines that commence scheduled flights to the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA). The aim is to attract more international airlines to the Mattala Airport.
Accordingly, international airlines that have not previously operated to Mattala Airport are offered the complete waiver of the embarkation levy of US $ 60 for a period of two years from the date of commencement of operations to the airport. Concessions are also offered for aircraft landing and parking charges. Accordingly, discounts will be given for four years from the date of commencement of operations to Mattala Airport. Landing and parking charges will be waived off by 100% in the First year, 75% in the Second year, 50% in the Third year and 25% in the Fourth year.
The Minister, Hon. Prasanna Ranatunga says that if any airline enters into an agreement to operate at least one scheduled flight per week to Mattala Airport, it is also considered to offer a 50% discount on the First year’s landing and parking charges at Katunayake Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA).
The Minister, Hon. Prasanna Ranatunga has pointed out that the Covid 19 pandemic has significantly affected the global aviation industry and as a result, the entire aviation industry is in crisis. Accordingly, it was planned to implement this concession package targeting airlines that expect to commence flight operations to Mattala Airport and measures have been taken to submit a Cabinet Memorandum in this regard for the approval of the Cabinet.
Minister of Tourism, Hon. Prasanna Ranatunga has instructed the relevant officials to take immediate action to minimize the inconveniences caused to tourists and Sri Lankans, while using the airport.The Minister said this while inspecting the Katunayake Airport premises.The Minister participated in the observation visit to look into ways to minimize the inconvenience caused to tourists as more tourists are expected to visit the country in the near future.
The Minister said that separate booths should be set up for Sri Lankans and tourists arriving in the country to leave the airport premises, to pick up their luggage and for customs services. With Covid pandemic, many countries are focused on boosting the tourism industry. The number of tourists visiting the country daily has increased and it is likely to increase the number to between 1500 and 2000 tourists per day in the future, the Minister said.
The Minister said that more attention should be paid during this period to the maintenance and operation of the airport in compliance with the health guidelines related to the control of pandemic.The Katunayake Airport was designed to handle 6 million passengers annually. However, Katunayake Airport handles between 10 to 12 million passengers. Although the construction of a new passenger terminal at the Katunayake Airport was originally started during the tenure of the former President, H.E. Mahinda Rajapaksa, it was hampered during the period of good governance. The Minister said that with the resumption of operations at present, the new terminal will be able to cater to another 9 million passengers, once it is completed.
Major(Retired), G.A. Chandrasiri, Vice President,Mr. Rajiv Sooriyarachchi, Officials of the Immigration and Emigration Department, Sri Lanka Customs and other Officials in charge of Security of the Airport were also present.
SriLankan Airlines resumes Colombo-Moscow flights after a break of 6 years. Accordingly, SriLankan Airlines Flight UL 533 left for Moscow at 10.20 p.m on Friday (30). The plane landed at the Moscow DOMODEDOVO Airport at 4.30 a.m on the 31st.The plane was carrying a special delegation including the Minister of Tourism, Hon. Prasanna Ranatunga, Chairman of SriLankan Airlines, Mr. Ashok Pathirage and Secretary to the State Ministry of Aviation and Export Zone Development, Mr. Madhava Devasurendra.
Accordingly, a SriLankan Airlines flight is scheduled to depart from Colombo to Moscow every Friday and it will take 08 hours and 25 minutes to fly to the Moscow Airport. The flight is scheduled to return from Moscow to Katunayake the next day.
Hon.Minister of Tourism, Prasanna Ranatunga presided over the inauguration ceremony held last Friday evening to mark the resumption of direct flights between Sri Lanka and Russia after six years. Hon.Minister stated that this would help to expand the bilateral ties between the two countries and that this is a very good start especially for the tourism industry in the country.
During his stay in Russia, Hon. Minister of Tourism, Prasanna Ranatunga will hold discussions with the Heads of Tourism and Aviation of Russia as well as Sri Lankan businessmen living in Russia.
Photo - Inauguration Ceremony held at Serendib Hall, Katunayake on the Resumption of Flights between Colombo and Moscow.
Russian Aeroflot Airlines will commence direct flights between Russia and Sri Lanka from November 4.
This decision was taken at a meeting between Russian Aeroflot Airlines and Officials of Sri Lanka's Airports and Aviation Services Company in Russia this morning. This discussion took place at Aeroflot Airlines headquarters in Moscow, Russia.
The Ministry of Tourism has made arrangements to hold discussions with leading airlines around the world in the future with the aim of promoting Sri Lanka as an attractive tourism destination.The talks are being held on the instructions of Minister of Tourism, Hon. Prasanna Ranatunga and this was the very first discussion of the promotion campaign.
Russian Aeroflot Airlines had previously planned to commence flights to Sri Lanka from September 1, but it was postponed indefinitely due to the prevailing situation. As a result of today's discussions, it was decided to resume flights between Russia and Sri Lanka from November 4. During the discussions, it was decided to fly from Russia to Sri Lanka twice a week at the initial stage.There was a special discussion on the vaccination program in Sri Lanka and the Officials of Aeroflot Airlines appreciated the measures taken by the Sri Lankan government to vaccinate every citizen of the country. They stated that with the success of the vaccination program in Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka could be introduced as a safe and healthier tourist destination in the future.
Moreover, the discussion focused on the health guidelines currently being implemented in the country and the restrictions imposed on the number of people who can board an airplane. The Officials of the Airport and Aviation Services Company of Sri Lanka pointed out that there is no such restriction for tourists.
Sri Lanka reopened the country for tourists on January 21 after the Covid-19 outbreak. And, the Officials of the Airport and Aviation Services Company hope that Russian tourist arrivals could increase further after the launch of direct flights to Sri Lanka from November 4.
Mr.Igor Chernyshiv, Mr.Ivon G. Batanov, Mr.Anton P. Myagkov,Mr.Natalya R. Teimuazova representing the Aeroflot Airlines and Mr.Rajiv Sooriyarachchi, Vice President, Airport and Aviation Services Ltd, Sri Lanka,Mr. Sunil Gunawardena, Additional Secretary, State Ministry of Aviation and Export Zone Development, and Mr. Nimesh Herath, Consultant Coordinator, Tourism Development Authority of Sri Lanka representing Sri Lanka were present at the discussion.
Five domestic airports located in tourism areas will be upgraded with the aim of boosting local and foreign tourism. Accordingly, the government is focusing on upgrading Sigiriya, Koggala, Ampara, Anuradhapura and Hingurakgoda domestic airports on a priority basis, said the Minister of Tourism, Hon. Prasanna Ranatunga.
At present, there are 10 domestic airstrips in the country and they are under the control of the Sri Lanka Air Force. Those airports are Sigiriya, Koggala, Ampara, Anuradhapura, Hingurakgoda, Katukurunda, Trincomalee, Vavuniya, Weerawila and Puttalam. In addition, the Ratmalana, Jaffna and Batticaloa airports are maintained as international airports as well as domestic airports under the Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd.
Sigiriya is a tourist destination that has attracted a large number of local and foreign tourists. It is expected that many local and foreign tourists will benefit from the development of the Sigiriya Domestic Airport. The Koggala Domestic Airport is located close to the Mirissa beach which is famous for whale watching. The Ampara Domestic Airport is located close to the East Coast of the country, and Anuradhapura Airport is developed to attract local and foreign tourist to the Old Kingdoms of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa.
Proposals have also been made for the construction of three new domestic airports at Nuwara Eliya, Digana and Bandarawela and further action in this regard is in progress. Construction of the Domestic Airport in Bandarawela is a National Budget Proposal in 2016. Construction of a domestic airport in Nuwara-Eliya area is also mentioned in H.E, the President, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa's Vistas of Prosperity, the National Policy Statement. Accordingly, the area around the Sita-Eliya Potato Seed Farm, Sadathenna and the area close to the Gregory Lake was inspected for this purpose but it has been confirmed that the relevant sites are not suitable for the construction of a domestic airport. Accordingly, a proposal has been submitted regarding another place in the area and a feasibility study is expected to be carried out on that place, the Minister said.
In the wake of the Covid pandemic, there has been a lot of focus on revitalizing the tourism industry in Sri Lanka, building tourism infrastructure as well as new strategies to attract tourists. Accordingly, attention has been paid to upgrade these domestic airports, the Minister said.
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