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The Sri Lankan government, under the leadership of the National People’s Power (NPP), is set to call for Expressions of Interest (EoI) to attract private sector investment for the operation of services at Mattala International Airport (MIA), an official confirmed.
MIA, which was funded by China EXIM Bank and has faced persistent financial struggles since its 2013 opening, has long been the subject of privatization debates. Previous attempts to hand over the airport to India’s Shaurya Aeronautics (Pvt) Ltd. and Russia’s Airports of Regions Management Company for 30 years were abandoned, as certain airport functions must legally remain under the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL).
The new plan aims to involve private investors in areas such as passenger services, maintenance and repair, and cargo handling, while retaining critical functions like security and air traffic control under CAASL’s jurisdiction.
Deputy Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation, Janitha Kodituwakku, stated that a Cabinet paper will soon be submitted to approve the EoI process. He added that even the earlier India-Russia joint venture could participate in the bidding.
Currently, Mattala Airport operates primarily for chartered flights and handles about 150,000 passengers annually, with no scheduled commercial flights.
CAA Chairman Sagara Kotakadeniya confirmed that while private sector participation is possible with ministerial approval, ownership and control over vital areas must remain with the state entity to comply with legal requirements.
