Core Insights - The audit report reveals that Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) has accumulated a net loss of 39.3 billion LKR over the past six years, with an operational loss of 3.36 billion LKR in 2024 alone, where expenses were nearly 15 times the revenue [1] - The airport's construction cost exceeded 36.5 billion LKR, but its operational performance has significantly underperformed, receiving only about 320,000 passengers against an initial target of 1 million over six years [1] - The airport incurs an annual debt interest burden of approximately 2.05 billion LKR, contributing to its financial strain [1] Government Response - In light of the financial difficulties, the government has decided to abandon the previous plan to hand over airport management to a joint venture of Indian and Russian firms, opting instead for a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model to attract private capital for cargo, maintenance, and hotel operations, while retaining control over core aviation safety and regulation [1] - The government anticipates that the introduction of charter flights in the winter of 2025/26 may provide some revenue, although a stable income source has yet to be established [1] - The PPP reform is aimed at halting losses and helping the airport escape the "white elephant" project predicament [1]
马塔拉国际机场6年累计亏损393亿卢比 政府拟改用PPP模式止损
Shang Wu Bu Wang Zhan·2026-01-14 23:22