Air Force camp for Mattala International Airport

By Sandun A Jayasekera

The government has decided to set up an Air Force camp at the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) in line with the Air Force camp adjacent to the BIA, at Katunayaka. The responsibility to provide security to international and domestic airports lies in the hands of the Sri Lanka Air Force.   

A cabinet memo presented by Minister Chamal Rajapaksa to the cabinet to obtain 200 acres to set up the Air Force camp to provide security to MRIA was approved by the cabinet on Wednesday.  

Minister Rajapaksa told the cabinet in his memo that providing security by the Sri Lanka Air Force to the MRIA was extremely vital because the MRIA was strategically located next to the international sea lane that connects east and west.  

Meanwhile Skills Development, Employment and Labour Relations Ministry has drawn up a plan to give youths a one year National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) training on construction industry, care giving and domestic nursing to the global standard and issue them with a Smart Card for them to obtain foreign employment.  
A cabinet paper presented in this regard by Minister Dinesh Gunawardana said that there was a big demand in the international job market for these professions but there was a shortage of qualified individuals.   

The NVQ training course will be sponsored by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and Employers Federation (EFSL) of Sri Lanka.