A decision has been taken to provide concessions to airlines that will start operations from Ratmalana Airport so that more low-cost carriers are lured to fly into Sri Lanka. 

The Tourism Ministry said that the airport departure tax would be trimmed by 50 percent. The concession will become active from March 27 and be in effect for a period of one year. 

A Cabinet memorandum has been submitted for the same for approval.Under the new proposal, airlines that will start scheduled flights from Ratmalana Airport from March 27 will be charged a departure tax of US $ 30.

In October 2020 also, the departure tax at Ratmalana Airport was reduced by 50 percent for a period of 
one year. 

Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said that plans are afoot to pitch Ratmalana International Airport as a new destination for low-cost air travel. “The government is also working to transform Ratmalana Airport into an international airport serving a domestic destination and will launch direct flights to the Maldives after 55 years,” said Ranatunga in a statement to the media. 

At present, Ratmalana Airport is being redeveloped as a regional international airport as proposed by President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa in his policy statement to develop Sri Lanka as a regional aviation hub.

To increase the activity of the airport, efforts are underway to develop the facility as a local aviation hub, a recreational aviation centre and an aviation-training centre.

Ranatunga shared that measures would also be taken to promote the importation of private jets to Sri Lanka, targeting high-income earners and to meet the requirements of technical parking services for private jets such as jet refuelling.