Cabinet approval next week for private sector involvement in developing Mattala airport

• The International airport was constructed with financing from China EXIM Bank.Currently, it is used for chartered flight operations for tourism only

By Kelum Bandara   

A Cabinet Memorandum will be presented next week seeking approval to call for Expression of Interest (EOI) from local or foreign investors to develop the Mattala international airport under the public private partnership (PPP) model, Deputy Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation Janitha Kodituwakku said.  The previous government also unsuccessfully tried to transfer the management for the $209 million Chinese-funded airport to two foreign companies, including one Indian. This move has been taken in a bid to mitigate losses incurred by state-owned enterprises.  

The International airport was constructed with financing from China EXIM Bank.Currently, it is used for chartered flight operations for tourism only.  

The Deputy Minister told the Daily Mirror the government would complete the repayment of loans obtained for the construction of the airport by 2030. 

He said the private sector would be involved for the operation of the airport.   

“The Cabinet paper will be presented next week,” he said.