Sri Lanka calls fresh bids for Mattala Airport development

26 April 2026 10:27 am Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 5 Bookmark

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Colombo, April 26 (Daily Mirror) - The Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Private) Limited (AASL) said that Expressions of Interest (EOI) are now open for the development and operation of the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA). The invitation is extended to both local and international investors interested in participating in the future expansion and commercial use of the airport.

Located in the southern part of Sri Lanka, MRIA covers approximately 600 hectares and offers a range of opportunities for investment.

This move follows the Cabinet’s decision to cancel a previous bidding process initiated by the former administration, which had focused solely on passenger operations.

Proposed areas include airport operations, cargo and logistics services, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) activities, aircraft spare parts manufacturing, and the establishment of industrial parks for manufacturing, packaging, and warehousing.

The EOI also highlights potential for development in renewable energy, tourism, and hospitality, including resort hotels and related services.

Currently, the airport is operating at a significant loss, bleeding approximately Rs. 3 billion annually. While passenger traffic saw a modest peak of 150,000 travellers in 2025, it remains far below the airport's one-million-passenger capacity.

Comments - 5

Lion Sunday, 26 April 2026 01:27 PM

Very good initiative, hope international players will be interested in this offer.

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Sohan Sunday, 26 April 2026 05:41 PM

What should be done is comeup with a new luxurycity concept built around it. Several luxury apartments, hotels, casino, golf course, ground for racing activities, shopping mall, campus and school etc. Offer tax free houses here so that rich guys will relocate to that area.

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pantha kumaran Sunday, 26 April 2026 07:55 PM

Why can't this government ask opinion from both Namal and Sajith about Mattala Airport. They seems to know better than all of us. Specially Namal's knowledge in this area is far better than Sajith. Namal is going to be our future leader and his opinion is urgently required.

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Rasi Monday, 27 April 2026 07:43 AM

People need to support government initiatives to restructure any government entity that has been making losses for whatever reason. The biggest problem is overcoming the negative propaganda created by interested parties, such as politicians and trade unions, who always favour the existing broken system for their own benefit.

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Let us all support AKD and the government Monday, 27 April 2026 09:40 AM

Yes, yes. We all need to support this CLEAN government to release containers without inspection, engage in corrupt deals (e.g. coal tender deal), allow transfer millions of dollars in the Treasury to hackers, etc. etc. Why not, we all need to help this brilliant administration, don't we?

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