Request for BIA to be made regional transit hub

The Government has been requested by Diplomats of key world capitals to make the Bandaranaike International Airport a Regional Transit Hub.

 This follows the High Commissioners and Ambassadors of Australia, United States,  European Union and Netherlands and others making representations to  SLPP Founder  and former Minister Basil Rajapaksa to allow the BIA to have a long  a 12- hour  transit window  instead of  6 hours  which would be  in fairness  for  all  long haul flights. This had been  a meeting at which Minister  of Foreign Affairs Dinesh  Gunawardena  and  Minister of  Tourism  and Aviation Services Prasanna Ranatunga, Chairman of Airport of Aviation and Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd, Major General G.A. Chandrasiri,  SriLankan  Airlines Chairperson Ashok Pathirage, Sri Lanka Tourism Chairperson  Kimarli Fernando and the  Director General  of Civil Aviation  and others were present. 

Chairman of Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd  Retired Major General G A Chandrasiri told  the Daily News  that  they were very keen to make the BIA a transit hub  and which might  later  turn out to be an aviation hub.

The AASL Chief also said that there were a large number of Sri Lankan students who were studying in SAARC countries  who were expected to return to Colombo this week.      However, he was tightlipped about the numbers.

Meanwhile, the AASL Chief said that the  BIA was shortly  going to call for bids for the Mattala  International Airport for the parking of  international flights for Asian and other airports  as they have excess space where aircraft can be parked.