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NEW YEAR TRADITIONS TO THE FORE AT BIA

April 14, 2013

The Sinhala and Tamil New Year dawned on 14th April, 2013 at 1.29 AM. The dawning of the New Year opens a new chapter in Sri Lanka’s civil aviation industry with the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) now on stream. The newborn MRIA which becomes Sri Lanka’s second international gateway to the world, is expected to help push the aviation boundaries of Sri Lanka significantly.

The New Year will also see the commencement of the next stage of development of the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) which has already reached saturation levels. The addition of new infrastructure vis-à-vis the steady growth of international and domestic passenger traffic will no doubt stand BIA in good stead.

The pictures show a section of BIA staff and passengers observing the principal New Year traditions of lighting the hearth and consuming the first meal at the auspicious time. The pot of milk brimming over is traditionally regarded as a symbol of assurance that hearth and home will remain filled with peace, happiness and prosperity all across the year that has just dawned.

Expressing confidence that the New Year will herald a new era in Sri Lanka’s civil aviation, Mr. Prasanna J. Wickramasuriya, Chairman of Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd. (AASL), and the Board of Directors wished the staff and all airport users a very bright and productive New Year.