Sri Lanka's Aviation Ministry is once again making an effort to revive Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA), which has been a challenge for successive governments. Despite previous attempts to make the airport viable, such as suggestions to set up hotels and a logistics hub, MRIA has not been able to meet its operational expenses.
In August 2023, Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva presented a memorandum to the Cabinet seeking approval for aeronautical and non-aeronautical business ventures at MRIA under a public-private partnership. However, a previous inquiry from the UAE, which was noted by Finance Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, fell through.
The Cabinet memorandum re-submitted by the Aviation Ministry highlights the need for MRIA to have more non-aeronautical revenue operations and to adopt a promotion strategy to attract new airlines and retain previous customers. Some of the possible direct aviation-related ventures include maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services, flying schools, aerospace engineering and manufacturing, and air-sea cargo processing. Indirect aviation-related ventures include logistics services, resort hotels, branded shopping outlets, food processing centers, industrial parks, and renewable energy industries.
The construction of MRIA cost $244 million, with $190 million being a loan from the Chinese Exim Bank that has been repaid by Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Pvt Ltd (AASL) since 2015. However, the Aviation Ministry states that AASL cannot bear the losses of MRIA as they have to invest in the development and maintenance of the country's main gateway, Bandaranaike International Airport.
In conclusion, reviving MRIA remains a challenge, but the Aviation Ministry is making another attempt to find a solution. The proposed public-private partnership and promotion strategy for non-aeronautical revenue operations could potentially make MRIA a viable option for the aviation industry in Sri Lanka.
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