India loses on Sri Lankan battleground

Tshering22

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Mattala airport is built to operate in conjuncture with the H'tota harbor. Therefore it is unfair to note that the airport in making severe losses in terms of passenger count. Mattala is now however earning lots of money through allowing it's airspace to be used by larger passenger air crafts like Airbus A380 bound to and from Australia. A niche previously filled by the Chennai airport.

Hambantota harbor is just a one part of a larger development project called "Greater H'tota" development plan. It encompass the airport, harbour, expressway, rail link and a massive industrial estate. It will be the future of Sri Lanka if properly developed.
Then tell me why are you asking Chinese airports companies to come and operate the MRIA for you?

Big revenues don't make any sense if your net profits are in the negative.

Sri Lanka should focus on expanding terminal capacity at Colombo airport, both landside and airside, and focus on liberalising their transit visa regime for travellers.

Not to mention, integrate the airport and airline strategy along with national tourism and city development plan.

Aviation hub requires heavy investments in movable assets.
 

HeinzGud

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Then tell me why are you asking Chinese airports companies to come and operate the MRIA for you?

Big revenues don't make any sense if your net profits are in the negative.

Sri Lanka should focus on expanding terminal capacity at Colombo airport, both landside and airside, and focus on liberalising their transit visa regime for travellers.

Not to mention, integrate the airport and airline strategy along with national tourism and city development plan.

Aviation hub requires heavy investments in movable assets.
AFAIK; SLG has not asked any Chinese companies to come to operate at MRIA.

MRIA and BIA are two strategically different airports situated in two different locations. Currently BIA is the gateway to Sri Lanka and MRIA is not built to compete with BIA. It simply built to promote the underdeveloped Southeast of the island and act as a major airline hub for the IOR region. Other than that MRIA is proposed to work in unison with the H'tota harbour and the proposed economic zone. Airport is part of a massive development project encompassing the whole Southeast of the island.
 

ABHINANDAN

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http://www.thehindu.com/news/intern...ver-controversial-remarks/article16438344.ece


Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera will meet China’s Ambassador to place on record Colombo’s “displeasure” at the latter’s recent remarks. A Foreign Ministry source told The Hindu on Sunday: “We are trying to schedule a meeting.”

At a press conference last week, Chinese Ambassador Yi Xianliang had criticised Sri Lankan Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake’s remarks on Chinese loans being “expensive”, and asked why Colombo sought more loans if that was the case.

Chinese projects
Apparently taking objection, Mr. Karunanayake responded , saying: “I am the Sri Lankan Finance Minister, not the Chinese Foreign Minister.” He told reporters in Colombo: “If he says they have not given loans with an interest over 2 per cent fine — we have to pay only 2 per cent then.”

Following the January 2015 presidential polls, Colombo’s equation with Beijing changed considerably, with newly-elected President Maithripala Sirisena vowing to investigate corruption allegations related to Chinese-aided projects initiated by the previous Mahinda Rajapaksa administration.

At the same time, Colombo enhanced its ties with New Delhi, which had been concerned about the perceived ‘pro-China tilt’ of Mr. Rajapaksa.

After going back and forth on the $1.4 billion port city project, inaugurated by Chinese President Xi Jinping in September 2014, Colombo has now agreed to proceed with it after revising its agreement with Beijing, tweaking some conditions.

Even as the Colombo-Beijing ties seem to be getting back on track, Ambassador Yi’s recent remarks have shocked Sri Lankan officials, and surprised many in the diplomatic community here, who found the comments “uncharacteristic” of Chinese diplomacy.

The widely-read Sunday Times newspaper quoted a senior Foreign Ministry source as saying: “If Ambassador Yi had any complaint on behalf of himself or his Government, the accepted norm is to make representations to the appropriate source. That is the Foreign Ministry. His conduct is highly unprofessional and does not in any way foster good relations between Sri Lanka and China.”
 

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