Mattala Airport to be Sold ?

Srilanka’s International Mattala Airport has not been gainfully utilized for airline operations for a long time. The Srilanka Government looked for alternative use of this airport, but not successful.  With just two daily flights the second just added in May this international airport is the world’s most under used airport, which has been a consistent financial burden on Srilanka’s transport and civil aviation ministry, since it opened in March in 2013. The airport is not generating sufficient revenue to pay back the $190 million loan obtained from the Exim bank of China to build it.

The Srilanka Government announced at the end of June, that it is looking for expressions of interest from investors who would like to take over commercial operations at Mattala.

In the meantime Forbes magazine has reported that the Mattala airport is the world’s emptiest international airport and available for sale.