Minister of Tourism Prasanna Ranatunga has called for a report from airport officials on the damage caused by storing paddy at the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport during the Yahapalana government.
The Minister has emphasized that the report needs to be submitted to him within a week with an accurate estimation of the damages.
These instructions were given at a discussion held with the airport officials at the Katunayake airport with the participation of Minister Ranatunga and State Minister DV Chanaka.
At the discussion trade union representatives pointed out that the Airport and Aviation Services Ltd. (AASL) has not so far presented an accurate estimate of the damages.
When Minister Rantunga questioned, the financial head of the AASL has admitted that there were lapses. The Minister therefore, emphasized that an accurate estimation is necessary.
During the previous government, the storage complex of the MRIA was used to store paddy. The scanners, high technology equipment and deep freezers were reportedly dismantled to make way for storing paddy.
A presidential Commission of Inquiry appointed to probe into the incident revealed that by storing the paddy, damages were caused to the air conditioning system, electricity a supply and the lighting system of the runway as well.
At the discussion, Minister Prasanna Rantunga said the country should be made aware of the damage caused to the MRIA by the Yahapalana government by storing paddy.
The Minister further said that the previous government neglected the MRIA as they wanted it to die a natural death. However, after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa came into power steps were taken to transform the airport into an operational airport.
Courtesy: Colombo Page
