Airport Development Was Delayed Because National Plan Was Tampered With After Change In Govt: Minister Dr Mausoom

Tourism Minister, Dr Abdullah Mausoom, stated that the work on Velana International Airport was delayed because the National Plan had been “played with” after the inauguration of the new government.

Dr Mausoom stated this on a programme that aired on VTV. He said that the delay in the airport’s development was a concern for the tourism sector; he also stated that the delay in the airport’s development was the reason that planes had to fly in circles over the airport unable to land.

He said that the delays in the airport’s development came about as a result of “playing with” the National Plan after the change in government. He said that the National Plan should not be changed even if the government were to change.

He said that the negative effects of changing the National Plan with the change of government every five years would have to be borne by the nation and the people.

The previous administration had initiated the USD1 billion project to upgrade and develop Velana International Airport; the new runway and seaplane terminal, though built and completed as part of the development project, have remained unused for the past 2 years. The development project also oversaw the increase of the Airpor’s fuel capacity and the building of an international passenger terminal. The Solih administration that came to power in 2018 made changes to the development project.