Colombo, March 7 -- The Government is looking towards converting the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Airport into an aircraft repair centre, Minister Bimal Ratnayake told Parliament today.

Speaking during the committee stage debate on the budget, the Minister said the government is looking towards converting the Mattala Airport into a profit making venture together with a suitable foreign partner.

"The airport in Mattala was constructed at a cost of Rs. 36.5 billion while the total losses for the last five years has been Rs. 38.5 billion. We want this institution to be made into a profit making entity," he added.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Daily Mirror Sri Lanka....