The Hindu Business Line : CIAL team visits Sri Lanka

Kochi, Jan 28: A high-level delegation from Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL) is visiting Sri Lanka following an invitation from the President of the country, Mr Mahindra Rajapakse, to hold preliminary discussions about the possibility of setting up a greenfield airport in southern Sri Lanka on the model of CIAL.

The CIAL Managing Director, Mr S. Bharath, said that the Sri Lankan President was impressed with the facilities he saw at CIAL, when he visited Kerala in December 2005. On his return to Sri Lanka, he was keen to receive a delegation from CIAL to have detailed discussions about the possibility of setting up a similar cost-effective airport.

The delegation, headed by the Managing Director, left for Sri Lanka on Monday and will hold discussions with the President of Sri Lanka, the Minister for Ports and Aviation and other senior officials from the Government regarding the matter.

The delegation will also visit the proposed airport site at southern Sri Lanka followed by further discussions with the concerned Ministers and senior officials about the steps required to undertake the project. The delegation will return on February 2.