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A new era of air connectivity began today as Belavia – Belarusian Airlines, the national carrier of Belarus, launched direct flights between Minsk and Mattala, enhancing travel and tourism links between the two nations.
The inaugural flight, operated by an A330-200 aircraft with 281 seats, touched down at Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) at 1:50 p.m., carrying 277 international tourists. The aircraft was greeted with a traditional water cannon salute, followed by Kandyan dance performances organized by the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB). Each passenger received a Ceylon Tea gift from the Sri Lanka Tea Board, reflecting Sri Lanka’s signature hospitality.
Belavia’s weekly flights, operating every Tuesday, are scheduled as follows:
✈️ Minsk → Mattala – Departure: 02:10, Arrival: 14:00
✈️ Mattala → Minsk – Departure: 16:00, Arrival: 23:30
This new route follows a familiarization visit to MRIA on August 4, coordinated by H.E. Mrs. Shobini Gunasekera, Ambassador-designate of Sri Lanka to the Russian Federation, with support from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Ports, Shipping and Aviation, as well as AASL, CAASL, and Far East Air Services (Pvt) Ltd.
The airline plans to operate the route once a week until March 8, 2026, during the winter season, with future expansions depending on demand. Tickets are now available through Belavia’s sales offices and authorized agents.
The launch ceremony was attended by Deputy Minister of Tourism Prof. Ruwan Ranasinghe, H.E. Mihail Kasko, Ambassador of Belarus to India and Sri Lanka, Mr. Sunil Jayaratne, Chairman of CAASL, Ms. Malkanthi Rajapaksha, Director General of SLTDA, and other key stakeholders.
MRIA continues to strengthen its global reach, having recorded 132,852 passenger movements in 2024 and 97,206 from January to September 2025, underscoring its growing role as an international aviation hub.
