Airport for Nuwara Eliya
Measures will be taken to construct an airport in the Nuwara Eliya district, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said.
The President on Monday instructed the relevant ministers to identify suitable land for the purpose, the President’s media said.
He was meeting politicians, professionals, the business community and party activists of the district at his official residence in Nuwara Eliya.
President Rajapaksa apprised the gathering on the development which is taking place within the Nuwara Eliya Municipal Council limits and those planned for the future.
The President said that the construction of a domestic airport in Nuwara Eliya was aimed at facilitating the city to reap maximum benefits of the booming tourism industry.
President Rajapaksa also described the massive development taking place within the country in every sphere and noted that Sri Lanka today had emerged as one of the strongest democracies in Asia.
Explaining Sri Lanka’s impressive economic achievements in the recent past, the President said that unemployment had gone below four percent due to the rapid increase of new employment opportunities.
He pointed out that the number of females migrating for employment as domestic aides had reduced, and instead the number of skilled males going abroad for employment had increased to 54 percent.
The President had also sought information from officials on the progress made in road development in and around the city, the hospital development, renovation of estate roads etc. Those present explained to the President that the initiative to develop 25 square kilometres of every village had paid rich dividends in developing rural roads in the district.
The President had also apprised the gathering of the government initiative to eradicate malnutrition in the district.
While explaining the importance of developing the country to benefit the present and future generations, the President urged the gathering to commit themselves and join hands with the government to strengthen the development process of the city and the district.
Courtesy: Daily News
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Isn’t it better to build an airport in Kandy, as most tourists would prefer to visit Kandy to visit the holy shrine of Dalada Maligava? Peradeniya Botanical gardens is another tourist attraction. Nuwara Eliya has no tourist potential. It is waste of money to build an airport there. Anuradhapura is another city which deserves an airport. Most tourists would love to visit on pilgrimage the historic shrine of Bodhinvahanse and see the sites of this ancient city, which needs to be developed and the ancient city revealed in its former glory. As it is, it is left in a state of ruin.
Dias,
have you ever been to nuwaraeliya?? if you been you don’t make this kind of stupit comment. Nuwaraeliya climate it self its unique you don’t find any where in sri Lanka. tourist comming here to relax in romantic enviroment and not comming for preyars.
would suggest you to go to nuwaraeliya once in your life time you feel the difference
Very good.
It is a good start and many tourist will get benifits out of it.
Nicholas Dias,
Colombo-kandy high way is enough for kandy now. Dont compare the kandy & Nuwaraliya, your comparism is in valid and you dont know much about tourism.
Dont poke your nose on every issues in sri Lanka. You are so tiny in many times.
Have a good day
Nicholas,
Don’t worry; these are vote buyers and not serious economic projects. SL does not any aiport other than Katunayake. The tourists to Kandy and Nuwara Eliya love the overland trip from Colombo.
As far as tourism is concerned the money is better spent when existing infrastructure is well maintained to preserve our heritage.
හරි එහෙනම්
නුවරට වරායක් දෙමුකො..!
These two diaspora (Amdeen & Nicholas Dias) dont know the geographical location of Sri Lanka and all districts. shame, shame & shame on you
Can’t we put ships into the Kandy lake..?
..kandy is only a traffic jam since closing of the road besides of tooth temple. All vehicles jamming in the narrow strip road around the kandy lake.
No one of these fools think to make a bridge across the lake, if it can’t open the tooth temple road.
There is a new breed of “traitors” called “diaspora”. In the Sri Lankan psyche, those who do not toe the “Blue” line or sing hossanas are labelled “traitors”. When will we grow up and become mature citizens of the World?
Julian’s right; surprised to see super patriot, erudite Mr Nicholas Dias being labelled “diaspora” traitor
Who cares those words. Can move a mountain by barkes.?
Who cares those words. Can move a mountain by barks.?
Anything without harming the environment.
FM is quite right. On second thoughts, we do not need anymore international airports. Mattala airport down south is a vote gimmick and a waste of money! What we need to do is expand the present Katunayake airport in a few years time as the country progresses and there is more influx of tourists.
For those who want to travel faster to other cities in SL, we could cater for them with well developed airfields in these cities, for small aircrafts.
Most tourists would prefer to travel by road and rail in order to see the sights. Hence we need a network of wide fast motorways. We need to replace our decrepit railway network with high speed electric trains, as in China and Japan. Tourists would enjoy travelling overland in luxury coaches and luxury trains. All this can be paid for in time with the income generated from tourism. Hopefully, oil and gas discoveries will also generate a bob or two, if greedy ministers don’t put their hand in the till first.
We should very seriously thing about the up country wheather,Nuwara eliya area wheather often changing…foge,raining so…..if we not mind those think otherwise often see the flight cresess.
best way is to develop highways and faster railway tracks. its help to locals and foreigners travel through the beauty of envelopment. also they can have climate change with in shorter period of their journey. every body will love it. as well as people will get more opportunity rather flying one place to other.