The Hon. M.S. Uthumalebbe

¶ 01 In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

¶ 02 Hon. Presiding Member, I wish to make some remarks in this debate on the Adjournment Motion relating to the Report of the Committee on Government Obligations concerning Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Private) Company.

¶ 03 With the onset of COVID-19 in 2020, direct flights between Sri Lanka and Saudi Arabia operated by Saudia, Etihad, Qatar Airways, and Emirates were suspended. At present, SriLankan Airlines operates limited flights, at very high fares, to Riyadh and Dammam. About 300,000 Sri Lankans work in Saudi Arabia. Additionally, each year about 3,500 pilgrims go for Hajj and more than 50,000 go for Umrah from Sri Lanka. If we can establish a properly regulated, fair, direct flight service to Saudi Arabia without intermediaries, Hajj and Umrah costs per pilgrim could be reduced by about one hundred thousand rupees, and the approximately 300,000 Sri Lankans working in Saudi Arabia would also benefit. At the same time, tourist arrivals from Saudi Arabia to Sri Lanka would increase, boosting tourism and significantly increasing foreign exchange earnings.

¶ 04 Due to indirect routings via other airports, Sri Lankans are forced into 15–20 hour journeys transiting at airports such as Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Bahrain, Sharjah, Qatar, and Oman. Therefore, I request the Hon. Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation, Bimal Rathnayake, to make arrangements to resume the already suspended direct flights between Sri Lanka and Saudi Arabia, for the benefit of the 300,000 Sri Lankans working in Saudi Arabia and approximately 85,000 Muslims annually undertaking Umrah and Hajj. This will enhance our country’s economic growth. It is also a longstanding demand of hundreds of thousands who contribute significantly to our economy.

¶ 05 Sri Lankans living abroad asked me, as their representative, to bring this request for a long time. Considering the country’s economic situation, we delayed it. Now that conditions have improved, I request that the direct flight service between Sri Lanka and Saudi Arabia be resumed, with direct flights to Jeddah.

¶ 06 Next, I wish to speak about resuming domestic air services to the Northern and Eastern Provinces. Even during the war, there were domestic flights from Ratmalana Airport to areas such as Ampara, Batticaloa, Trincomalee, and Palaly, operating three times a week. This benefitted not only the people living in the North and East, but also foreign visitors, senior officials, and investors. On behalf of the people of the North and East, I request that these domestic flights be restarted.

¶ 07 In the past, Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Private) Company operated seaplane services serving locations such as Batticaloa, Pottuvil, and Arugam Bay. This service is now suspended. Therefore, I request the Hon. Minister of Transport, Highways, Ports and Civil Aviation to coordinate with a suitable private company and take steps to resume these suspended seaplane services. Arugam Bay in the Eastern Province attracts many tourists. Not only foreign tourists but also affluent residents of Colombo and others benefitted from these seaplane services. When the economy develops, we can further expand such facilities. Providing these amenities will help grow the national economy.

¶ 08 Hon. Presiding Member, I have served twice as Minister of Road Development and Minister of Irrigation for the Eastern Province, working for all communities without discrimination. In my home area of Akkaraipattu, there is a unique situation with a river running through the middle of the town from beginning to end—a feature I have not seen elsewhere. We widened and beautified this river with a view to starting a seaplane service, but due to political changes and other reasons it could not be realized. Even if we cannot implement the seaplane plan on the Konawatta (Konawathukulam) river, at least we should implement it on the Sambukalappu (Sambukulam) river in the Akkaraipattu–Akkaraipattu Pattu region, where all facilities exist. The river runs from Paddiyadippiddy in Akkaraipattu to Sambukalappu, with water throughout the year. Establishing a seaplane facility there would spur economic development and increase tourist arrivals. Lands in that region would also develop through tourism. I request the Hon. Minister to implement this.

¶ 09 Listening to some of the speeches made here today is worrying. I have said this before: this is a historic Parliament—the Tenth Parliament is a special Parliament. How many leaders of different communities have spoken here; their voices still resonate in this Chamber. Matters affecting each community have been discussed here. God grants each person an opportunity. In the last General Election, more than 150 great leaders and millionaires were defeated, and 225 Members, including myself, were elected to this Tenth Parliament. We must accept this as God’s verdict.

¶ 10 Did anyone think that Hon. Anura Kumara Dissanayake would become the President of this country? No. He long remained in the Opposition and raised his voice for justice. Over time, his party grew, and today, with 159 Members of Parliament, he governs. Did any of the Ministers here think they would become Ministers in their lifetime? It is because the people had faith in the individual leadership of Anura Kumara Dissanayake that you were elected. That is why today you hold office as Speaker, Ministers, and Deputy Ministers.