The government should explore the option of assigning the management of the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) to a company that not only specializes in management but also owns airplanes and has the capability to attract and facilitate aircraft operations, former Sri Lankan Ambassador to Russia Udayanga Weeratunga said.
Addressing the media, he said that the government had handed over the management of the MRIA to Shaurya Aeronautics Pvt. Ltd. of India and Airports of Regions Management Company of Russia, or an affiliated company there, for a period of 30 years.
“Today marks the 11th anniversary since the opening of the MRIA. Over the past years, authorities have struggled to maintain consistent air traffic with tourists. However, I successfully brought the first aircraft from Ukraine on December 28, 2020. Since then, a total of 243 aircraft have landed at the MRIA, carrying more than 400 foreigners. Interestingly, not a single Sri Lankan arrived on those planes, except for me,” he said.