Minister of Transport Bimal Rathnayake has acknowledged that making the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) fully flight-ready will take several more years.
Speaking after an inspection tour, the Minister said the government continues to bear a heavy financial burden to maintain the largely underutilized airport.
“We don’t expect any major progress in the next one or two years, but we are working to bring it up to a usable level,” he said.
Despite the challenges, Rathnayake emphasized the importance of MRIA as an alternative airport for the country. However, he also admitted that attracting airlines and credible investors remains a major obstacle.
“There’s a mountain of debt—$260 million—which must be repaid by 2030. And the airport was built without a proper business plan,” he said, criticizing the airport’s initial development.
He noted that revenue from the profitable Katunayake Airport is being used to keep MRIA afloat, calling it a misuse of funds.
Meanwhile, alternative uses such as aircraft maintenance and solar power projects are being explored to utilize the space effectively until regular operations can commence.
