Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2020-03-18

Acquisition of an extent of 200 acres of land to establish an Air Base at Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA)

- The Sri Lanka Airforce is assigned with the task of ensuring the security concerns of all the Airports in Sri Lanka. As such, it has become absolutely necessary to establish an Air Base similar to that of Bandaranaike International Airport at Katunayake to provide security to the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport which has been recognized as an Airport with strategic importance in the Indian Ocean Region. Accordingly, the Cabinet taking into consideration the proposal made by the Minister of Mahaweli, Agriculture, Irrigation and Rural Development and Minister of Internal Trade, Food Security and Consumer Welfare, decided that an extent of 200 acres of land situated adjoining the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport be allocated for the purpose.