“AASL launches airport development projects with own funds”

The Airport and Aviation services of Sri Lanka (AASL) has launched several development initiatives in all airports utilising their own profits, said its Chairman Major General (Rtd.) G. A. Chandrasiri.

Speaking to ‘Daily News Business’ he said that they paid Rs. 300 million to Rod Development Authority to complete the Katunayake access road. “We even paid money to RDA to develop the nearby roads.”

He said that we will further pay another Rs. 400 million to complete the remaining one KM of road near the airport. Referring to the news published in ‘Daily News Business’ yesterday quoting Chairman Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority Priantha Fernando that they advanced Rs. 1 million to develop the Jaffna international Airport (JAF) he categorically denied it. “Why should we take money from Tourism? This is not accurate. AASL is anyway investing in JFA as we see huge potential in it.”

Major General (Rtd.) G. A. Chandrasiri said that despite global economic recession and tourism not in full swing the AASL has made profits. “These profits are reinvested to develop airports and also develop other infrastructure.”

He however said that they have failed to extend the rail track and move the station to inside the airport due to reasons beyond their control. The Chairman said that the current daily passenger traffic to the Colombo airport is around 3,700 passengers. “If we can improve this to around 5,000 per day which is on the card we can further increase our profits.”

He said though there is a delay in obtaining Japanese loans from JICA due the country situation (self default) they have gone ahead and done several needed reprints and other work.

 “However due to the escalation of construction costs and Sri Lanka’s economic situation we have re-visited the terminal development project plan and have downsized it.”

He said that due to them earning profits they extended a series of tax rebates for parking and landing to new airlines flying to all airports including Colombo and also 50% of on embarkation tax for Mattala and JAF.