SCMP Economy4/30/2026BusinessChina
Sri Lanka's Second International Airport Struggles Years After Opening
Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport fails to generate revenue, straining state finances
Quick Look
- Sri Lanka's second international airport, built with Chinese loan funding near a wildlife sanctuary on the island's southern coast, has failed to generate revenue since opening in 2013.
- The airport, named after a former prime minister, has no regular flights and cannot cover its own electricity bills, straining state coffers.
- Analysts describe it as a vanity project that was sold based on proximity to Hambantota port, which has seen limited cruise traffic.
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Sri Lanka's second international airport, built with Chinese loan funding near a wildlife sanctuary on the island's southern coast, has failed to generate revenue since opening in 2013. The airport, named after a former prime minister, has no regular flights and cannot cover its own electricity bills, straining state coffers. Analysts describe it as a vanity project that was sold based on proximity to Hambantota port, which has seen limited cruise traffic.
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This article was originally published by SCMP Economy.
