Public representatives weigh in on fate of Mattala Airport

COLOMBO (News 1st) - What steps will the government take in the future, regarding the Mattala International Airport? Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera had on an occasion stated that there is no proposal whatsoever to sell the Mattala airport. While Minister Amaraweera maintains that a decision has not been taken, leaders of the government he represents seem to have different ideas. Both PM Ranil Wickremesinghe and subject minister Nimal Siripala de Silva had openly stated previously that they are in talks with India on the Mattala airport while Minister Eran Wickramaratne on the 19th of this month stated that the agreement for the Mattala airport would be a 40-year agreement. India's State Minister of Civil Aviation Services, recently said in the Lok Sabha that the Indian Aviation Authority had not taken a decision regarding investing in Mattala. Given this contradiction, is there any truth to the statements that have been made by members of our country's government from time to time? Chairman of the National Local Government Federation, Udeni Athukorala believes that this is a rouse by the present Government. Athukorala noted that Minister Nimal Siripala had already drawn up the plan to give Mattala over to India and had requested the Indian High Commission to issue a statement that they are not interested in it. Former Minister Chandima Weerakody stated that Sri Lanka is creating an international crisis in the country by offering the Hambantota Port to China and offsetting it by providing the Mattala Airport to India. Weraakody accused the UNP of taking steps to sell off national assets to keep foreign loyalists happy.