The Government should urgently increase investments to develop the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) to meet the increased demand of foreign tourists and local passengers, said veteran hotelier Chandra Wickramasinghe.
He said the construction of the Kurunegala highway from Kadawatha to Meerigama too should be expedited.
Wickramasinghe, the founding Chairman of Theme Resorts & Spas which has over 500 luxury rooms spread out in many areas of Sri Lanka, said that Government should fold up plans to invest a staggering Rs. 17 billion to facilitate international flights to Hingurakgoda airport, which is currently a domestic one. “It is is hardly used for domestic passenger movement.”
“The allocation of this money should be pumped into both BIA and Highway connectivity to Kurunegala and when this is done and the Highway further extended there will be no need for an international airport in Hingurakgoda”
He said that this investment of Rs. 17 million would definitely go waste and it would be another white elephant if offing he said while opening their newest 12-room eco-friendly ‘Waraka’ hotel at UdaWalawe last week.
With more arrivals we need to urgently upgrade the BIA instead of upgrading Hingurakgoda to an international airport.
Wickramsinghe also recalled that despite Hambantota having an international harbour, world-class convention centre, good road network and several international hotel chains being set up in the area and the world-famous Yala National park, the Mattala airport could not take off.
“The investments made to Hingurakgoda airport too will bring a similar negative impact to the country.”
