The Hon. (Dr.) M. L. A. M. Hizbullah

¶ 01 Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim.

¶ 02 Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees, I am pleased to join this debate on the COPE report regarding public enterprises, particularly on aviation and transport-related institutions.

¶ 03 Batticaloa Airport has been gazetted as an international airport, yet no foreign flights operate there. Terminal and parking facilities are inadequate even for domestic operations, which have ceased. Previously, the Sri Lanka Air Force operated services 3–4 days a week between Ratmalana, Batticaloa, Trincomalee, and Palaly at low cost and with safety. That service has stopped, causing hardship in emergencies to reach the North and East, especially Ampara. I request the Minister and Deputy Minister to resume SLAF-operated flights to Batticaloa, Ampara, Trincomalee, and Palaly. Private operators are not reliably servicing these routes, and their fares are high.

¶ 04 Saudia Airlines once operated to Sri Lanka but stopped years ago. As a result, pilgrims for Hajj and Umrah and migrant workers to the Middle East must pay higher fares on other carriers. The Ambassador to Saudi Arabia is experienced; please engage with him and the Saudi Government to resume Saudia flights. We seek investment, and to attract it, we need agreements with capable countries. As we signed with the UAE recently, we should sign with Saudi Arabia to facilitate investors and address bilateral issues. In recent months, delegations visited Saudi Arabia for discussions; we should strengthen ties to build our economy. Please also operationalize Batticaloa International Airport using Sri Lanka Air Force aircraft with necessary arrangements. Thank you.