Govt. evaluates proposals to expand domestic aviation network by second half of year

By Nishel Fernando 

Sri Lanka’s tourism authorities are banking on a revived domestic aviation sector, to distribute tourist traffic more evenly across the island, expecting new operations to materialise by the second half of this year as several investment proposals undergo final evaluation.

​Speaking at a recent press briefing, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority Chairman Buddhika Hewawasam revealed that the government is actively looking to expand domestic flight operations. He noted that multiple potential investors have already been approached and have submitted their proposals, which are currently in the final stages of review. Given this progress, he projected that these new domestic aviation initiatives could be up and running by the latter half of the year.

​The push for domestic aviation is a crucial component of the government’s broader strategy to move tourists beyond the congested Western and Southern coastal belts. By improving domestic air links, the authorities aim to make distant regional destinations—particularly in the Northern and Eastern provinces as well as the newly designated tourism zones—more accessible to high-yielding international visitors, who prioritise quick and efficient travel.

​Historically, Sri Lanka’s domestic aviation sector has struggled to maintain consistent scheduled commercial flights, due to high operational costs, underdeveloped regional airport infrastructure and fluctuating passenger demand. The sector has often relied heavily on expensive private charter services, making quick travel between key cultural and coastal sites inaccessible to the broader tourist demographic. 

However, with tourist arrivals surging to a historical high of 2.36 million last year and an ambitious revenue target of US $ 4 billion set for 2026, the demand for premium, time-saving domestic travel options has intensified.

​To address these historical bottlenecks, the government has recently been exploring models to incentivise domestic route operations, seeking partnerships that can lower operational barriers and make regional air travel more commercially viable.