Us-based visitors for Mattala opening

Sri Lanka's embassy in the US is organising a group of about 100- 150 visitors to be flown in for the inaugural opening of the country's second international airport at Mattala, Hambantota on March 18 in a trip that lacks clarity, airline industry officials said.

" Who is in the group? Are they Sri Lankan nationals of US origin or US nationals or is it just a joyride," asked one industry official, adding:

" Who is paying for this trip? The Government. the taxpayer?" The group is being flown to Dubai on Emirates Airlines and from there to Mattala by SriLankan Airlines.

SriLankan Airlines officials confirmed to the Business Times that a number of passengers were coming down from the US via Dubai for the Mattala airport's opening but they were also not sure of the composition of the group, etc.

Sri Lankan authorities are trying to whip up support for the Mattala airport in President Mahinda Rajapaksa's home territory but so far only two budget carriers - Air Arabia and FlyDubai - have confirmed flights along with SriLankan Airlines and Mihin Air.

Some opposition politicians have also speculated on the possibility of the Bandaranaike International Airport being temporarily closed to create market access for Mattala. That has however been rejected by other opposition politicians and industry analysts saying no national airport is closed in a country for such a frivolous purpose.