Sri Lanka Airports

[banuthev]

Seven firms interested in utilizing Sri Lanka's idle Mattala International Airport

Mon, Sep 26, 2016, 11:03 am SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

Sept 26, Colombo: Seven aviation related firms, mainly Europe-based companies have expressed interest in utilizing Sri Lanka's Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) in Hambantota, which has been dubbed as the world's emptiest airport, a media report said.

The Transport and Civil Aviation Ministry in June called for Expressions of Interest (EOI) from investors to undertake investments and commercial operations of the country's second international airport. The submissions of EOIs were closed last month.

Airport and Aviation Services Ltd Executive Director Johanne Jayaratne told the Business Times that they were going through the short listing process and the Technical Evaluation Committee will provide the Cabinet Appointed Negotiating Committee the shortlisted recommendations.

Following the completion of the process the shortlisted parties will be called next month to submit their proposals, the official has said.

http://www.colombopage.com/archive_16B/Sep26_1474868020CH.php

[banuthev]

SL closing on deal for Mattala Airport

Sri Lanka is on the brink of sealing a deal with Chinese and Dubai based airlines and infrastructure companies to run the operations of the loss making Mattala International Airport in Hambantota.

Minister Samarawickrama said that there were several other bids as well. “I am confidence that there would be a positive message soon. We will look at offering them a 70% stake,” he said.

He said that the Request for Proposals for SriLankan Airlines too has been completed and a decision of the new player would be announced soon. He also said that a US based investment company too was very serious on SriLankan Airlines bid.

“We will have to settle all debts of the national airline and offer it to the new party as there would not be any party to operate the airline with huge losses.” Asked by Daily News Business if Sri Lanka could run it, he answered in the negative. “This was tried before and it failed,” he said.

Samarawickrama also said that the Volkswagen car assembly plant project in Kurunegala is still on and the ‘land issue’ too has been cleared. (SS)

http://dailynews.lk/?q=2016/09/28/business/94316

[Serendib]

Hambantota Port, Mattala Airport to be run as PPPs *USD one billion for Hambantota Port

October 14, 2016, 10:37 pm

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday that the Hambantota Port and Mattala Airport would be run as Public-Private Partnerships(PPPs) with Chinese Companies.

Addressing the convention of the Institution of Engineers in Colombo, the Prime Minister revealed that the sale of Hambantota Port would bring in USD one billion for the country.

"We are also working on a PPP with another Chinese Company for Hambantota Airport. As a result, a further amount would accrue to the country’s official reserves," he added.

Wickremesinghe said that both transactions would constitute non-debt creating FDI inflows which would help increase unencumbered official reserves significantly and have a more favourable impact on stabilising the exchange and interest rates than building up reserves using borrowed sources.

The increased reserves could also serve as a useful cushion in the context of the expected increase in US interest rates and other Global Financial Market Development, he noted.

http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=153769

[Serendib]

[dilushasg-bdavi]

Sold: Sri Lanka's Hambantota Port And The World's Emptiest Airport Go To The Chinese

http://www.forbes.com/sites/wadeshepard/2016/10/28/sold-sri-lankas-hambantota-port-and-the-worlds-emptiest-airport-go-to-the-chinese/#1c4089f416d8

[Cayman]

http://www.dailymirror.lk/article/CAA-to-take-over-Palali-Airport-118722.html

Above article says:

"Ratmalana Airport is to be relocated at a estimated cost of Rs.1.8 billion"

Where is it being relocated to?

[banuthev]

http://www.dailymirror.lk/article/CA...rt-118722.html

Above article says:

"Ratmalana Airport is to be relocated at a estimated cost of Rs.1.8 billion"

Where is it being relocated to?

Are they thinking to relocate Ratmalana to Jaffna?

[AB]

MRIA: Airport with tremendous potential

Not sure whether I'm supposed to laugh or feel ashamed as an aerospace engineering grad myself

http://www.ceylontoday.lk/print20161101CT20161231.php?id=9239

[Speedbird]

Not sure whether I'm supposed to laugh or feel ashamed as an aerospace engineering grad myself


http://www.ceylontoday.lk/print20161...31.php?id=9239

As a aerospace engineer...he thinks he knows about air transport industry...better stick to engineering...

he blame marketing for failure...what a dummy...fuel to piped to tanks...I am not sure what pipes he is referring to?

Yes...in Palaly there is a proven business case but not in MRIA

[Cayman]

As a aerospace engineer...he thinks he knows about air transport industry...better stick to engineering...

he blame marketing for failure...what a dummy...fuel to piped to tanks...I am not sure what pipes he is referring to?

Yes...in Palaly there is a proven business case but not in MRIA

Funny, all of a sudden everyone in SL is an expert in aviation, flight ops, yield management and fleet strategy.

Journalism standards in SL have deteriorated so much, it is a miracle that they still have a sizable readership.

[Serendib]

Sri Lanka to build second runway at Katunayake international airport - http://www.economynext.com/Sri_Lanka...2153-6.html%20

BIA to get Rs. 635 b facelift - http://www.ft.lk/article/579435/BIA-...635-b-facelift

[Aaqib]

Sri Lanka to build second runway at Katunayake international airport - http://www.economynext.com/Sri_Lanka...2153-6.html%20

BIA to get Rs. 635 b facelift - http://www.ft.lk/article/579435/BIA-...635-b-facelift

Its about time they renovated CMB! it honestly should have been done ages ago without building HRI. I mean whats the logic in building a secondary airport in Sri Lanka with the capability of landing an Airbus A380 when the main airport lacks it?

[Serendib]

A Boeing P-8A Poseidon US patrol aircraft visits Sri Lanka's China built airport

An advanced US long-range surveillance aircraft has visited Sri Lanka's Mattala Airport in the south which could soon be given to a Chinese firm to operate, as part of exercises to safeguard international shipping lanes.

Poseidon aircraft based on a Boeing 737 platform have advanced surveillance, anti submarine warfare and electronic intelligence capabilities

The aircraft had arrived in Colombo on December 04 and departed from the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport in Hambantota following exercises with Sri Lanka's Navy and Air Force.

The Mattala Airport was built by China on a semi-commercial loan and Sri Lanka is in talks with China to get a Chinese firm to partner to run it or buy a stake.

Sri Lanka has already struck a deal to sell nearby Hambantota port to China.

The US embassy in Colombo said the exercises with Sri Lanka's military were aimed at "safe-guarding the international shipping lanes that are vital to global commerce."

“This bilateral partnership with Sri Lanka security forces reinforces the global maritime rules that produces greater prosperity for all of us," U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Robert Hilton said in a statement.

The aircraft is "on a routine Indo-Asia-Pacific to ensure safety and security of vital sea lanes and trade routes, including integrating air and sea patrol operations."

A version of the aircraft P-8I has been sold to the Indian Air Force.
 
"We are pleased about the opportunity to partner with our friends in the Sri Lankan government and armed forces," Lt. Anthony Beres, the detachment officer in charge was quoted as saying.

"The P-8A Poseidon brings advanced capabilities to maritime safety patrols, search and rescue, counter-narcotics, and humanitarian and disaster relief efforts, and we appreciated engaging with the Sri Lankan Navy during this visit."

A Boeing P-8A Poseidon US patrol aircraft visits Sri Lanka's China built airport

http://www.economynext.com/US_patrol_aircraft_visits_Sri_Lanka_s_China_built_airport-3-6852.html

[banuthev]

US maritime surveillance aircraft visits Mattala Airport







Sunday Times

[banuthev]

“Airport & Aviation Services Sri Lanka (AASL) has prepared animation model of Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) Terminal-2. Construction of Terminal -2 will commence in 2017 and Selection of Contractors is in progress now.

Source : AASL