India and SL in contrary stand on MRIA: Wimal

6 August 2018 12:39 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 13 Bookmark

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The Indian Minister of State for Civil Aviation and Minister of Civil Aviation of Sri Lanka had expressed contrary statements on the Mattala International Airport (MRIA), Freedom Front (NFF) leader Wimal Weerawansa said yesterday.

Addressing a news conference, he said the subject minister of India had made a clear declaration in the Lok Sabha recently that Airports Authority of India had not had rounds of discussions with Sri Lanka on the lease of the Mattala Airport.

“Although the subject Minister of India says so, our Minister of Civil Aviation Nimal Siripala de Silva says otherwise. He says discussions are continuing to take place with India on Mattala Airport. It is puzzling as to why the two subject ministers express contrary statements on same matter,” the MP said.

However, Weerawansa said both of the subject ministers were attempting to conceal the actual scenario on the Mattala Airport.

“According to Minister Nimal Siripala, the Indian Airport Authority and Sri Lanka are hoping to establish a Joint Venture Company to control the Mattala Airport, where 70% shares will be bought by India,” he added.

Meanwhile, he said India was keeping an eye on not only to grab Mattala Airport but also airports in Kankesanthurai, Palali and harbours in Galle and Trincomalee.

Therefore, he said leasing out of Mattala Airport to India would provide more room for them to take hold of Sri Lanka and added it was a threat to the national security. (Sheain Fernandopulle)

Comments - 13

joshua Monday, 06 August 2018 12:49 PM

Ohhh..... you don't start again. The country would be better off without people like you.

4 41

Yes Master Monday, 06 August 2018 01:04 PM

Thanks for reminding us master..... were you when chines started to eat our land six years ago !! by the way any plan to start lemon puff satigraka soon ??

3 34

Banda Monday, 06 August 2018 01:15 PM

This government which came to power with the help of the Indian Intelligence,RAW, wants the Indian help again at the next election in 2020. So they are prepared to sacrifice Sri Lanka to the Indians. This treacherous government must be crushed at the next election.

37 8

VJ Monday, 06 August 2018 03:36 PM

It is the intelligence of the Sri Lankan people that ousted a treacherous government. Heard the Rajapakshes kids are looking for hackers in Russia.

1 16

gamini Monday, 06 August 2018 03:52 PM

so that the Chinese can gobble us?

0 6

jayantha Monday, 06 August 2018 01:50 PM

why all these talks going on as its Mahinda international air port ? , How come previous regime had leasing out colombo Fort Army HQ its postal Address is No;01 Fort Colombo its a Historical building they given to china to build a hotel . Why not talking these for sake of sri lanka

0 32

engineer Monday, 06 August 2018 02:17 PM

Please don't ruin the progress of this country. Leasing out airports, harbours we dont lose the sovereignity of SL. Only uneducated bone heads think in that direction. We are a begging nation and have not yet sorted out our ethnic problems, political prisoners etc. Let us meanwhile get help to improve transports road,rail and air links. You did not complain when Indian engineers constructed the railway line for vauniya to KKS. Please keep shut till next elections and see what happens to you.

1 29

sobers Monday, 06 August 2018 02:47 PM

What is your solution to pay the debts? When there are no takers for mattala airport, what else you would do. Eveyone knows that your chinese connection.

0 16

Bota Monday, 06 August 2018 03:13 PM

MRIA and H'tota ports are economically not viable projects that MR has undertaken. Now poor Sri Lankans paying its price. Useless politicians marking it more complicated.

1 14

Dhammika Monday, 06 August 2018 03:41 PM

This man WANSA survives ONLY if there is TURMOIL in politics SO his ultive motive is to create if the country is moving peacefully . ! .

0 14

alex Monday, 06 August 2018 03:54 PM

how is this a threat to national security when leasing the harbour and building the port city by China is not a security threat

0 10

Dhammika Monday, 06 August 2018 05:25 PM

SECURITY THREAT - Security for these useless MPs and THREAT for the common man .

1 9

Martin Milton Monday, 06 August 2018 06:19 PM

I agree with Hon Weerawansa. Giving all these opportunities to India is an extremely grave and serious threat to Sri Lanka's security. It should be stopped without delay and this MRIA should be managed by the SL Airports Authority - FULL STOP! MM

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