Tourism Minister highlights need for budget airlines

COLOMBO (News 1st) - Minister John Amaratunga speaking in Parliament today (May 11), commented on promoting budget airlines. The minister said he would encourage budget airlines to operate like in Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore as they have heavily benefited from it. He said travelers are now looking at cheap rates for air travel. Minister Amaratunga went on to say the country needs more domestic airports as there are people who don't want to waste time on the road. "I think we need one in the central hill part of the country if possible, and in the north and also in the southern part of the country, and the airport in Ratmalana should be expanded and brought under the Civil Aviation Authority, because there are many airlines from India who want to come in with 80 to 90 passengers who could easily land at Ratmalana without going to Katunayake and getting congested," Minister Amaratunga added.