Rajapaksa inaugurates multi-million rupee airport project in South

Colombo, Nov 19 (UNI) Celebrating his first anniversary as President of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapaksa today inaugurated a multi-million rupee project to build the second international airport at Weerawela in the Southern Province.

President Rajapaksa, who celebrated his 61st birthday yesterday, laid the foundation stone amidst tight security at Weerawila this morning.

The proposed Rs 1.2 billion airport project, covering 1150 hectares with the 300-meter length and 60-meter tarmac, is expected to be completed by November 2009.

According to reports, the proposed airport will accommodate 10 large ICFA aircraft to land at a time and will possess all modern equipment and other related facilities.

The government is expecting that over 70,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities will be created under this project.

Meanwhile, the government has promised all families who evacuated the area to allow the new airport to be built, to be provided with irrigated lands along with drinking water, electricity and other facilities, in addition to compensations.

The country has only one international airport at Katunayake, which is housed only in 490 hectares.

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