Participating in the third reading stage debate on budget 2015 under the expenditure heads of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the Deputy Minister said that the Civil Aviation Authority had developed links with the rest of the world and set for further improvement.

Deputy Minister Gunaratne said: “Today the Lankan flights fly around the world bearing a flag of a country where bombs do not explode after President Mahinda Rajapaksa ended the three decade long conflict. That is our pride.”

“I must thank the assistance extended by the Minister of Civil Aviation to solve the recent trade union dispute at the Bandaranaike International Airport. President Mahinda Rajapaksa instructed me to visit the BIA and meet with SLFP trade unionists. I too was a member of the SLFP unions. On instructions of the President, I participated in the negotiations with the unionists and I am happy that we could iron out the differences,” he said.

The Minister said that SriLankan Catering Limited could increase their profits if they could replace imported fish, fruit and vegetable with local produce. “We could promote fish varieties coming from Negombo, lagoon prawns and crabs from Mannar by using them to prepare food items sold by the SriLankan Catering. Vegetable and fruits are produced heavily today thanks to the Divi Neguma Programme. We should think of purchasing those fruits and vegetables for the use of SriLankan Catering,” the Deputy Minister added. (Special Reporter/HC)