• Batticaloa Intl. airport failed to generate income within last five years

The National Audit Office (NAO), in a recent report revealed the total losses incurred by the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) between 2017 and 2022 amount to approximately Rs. 42.81 billion.

The report indicated that the Airport’s operating costs for the year 2022 amounted to Rs. 2.03 billion, which is 26 times higher than its income. The Airport had, meanwhile, incurred a loss to the tune of Rs. 22.21 billion last year (2022). Furthermore, while a rough estimate of one million passengers were expected at the Airport annually, the NAO report revealed that only a total of 11,577 passengers had travelled through the Airport last year, while only 103,324 passengers had travelled via MRIA between 2017 and 2022.

The project launched, initially to develop the Airport, cost Rs. 36.56 billion, while Rs. 19 billion of the cost had been obtained in foreign loans. It was further stressed that the MRIA was in fact a project initiated by the government, and not one which was decided by the Airport and Aviation Services Sri Lanka (Pvt) Ltd.

Meanwhile, NAO reports also revealed that the Batticaloa International Airport, which was opened in March 2018, has totaled an operating cost of Rs. 86 million over the past five years. However, it has failed to generate any income.

Head: Mattala Airport incurred Rs. 42 Bn losses in 5 yrs: NAO

Strap: Batticaloa Intl. airport failed to generate income within last five years

The National Audit Office (NAO), in a recent report revealed the total losses incurred by the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) between 2017 and 2022 amount to approximately Rs. 42.81 billion.

The report indicated that the Airport’s operating costs for the year 2022 amounted to Rs. 2.03 billion, which is 26 times higher than its income. The Airport had, meanwhile, incurred a loss to the tune of Rs. 22.21 billion last year (2022). Furthermore, while a rough estimate of one million passengers were expected at the Airport annually, the NAO report revealed that only a total of 11,577 passengers had travelled through the Airport last year, while only 103,324 passengers had travelled via MRIA between 2017 and 2022.

The project launched, initially to develop the Airport, cost Rs. 36.56 billion, while Rs. 19 billion of the cost had been obtained in foreign loans. It was further stressed that the MRIA was in fact a project initiated by the government, and not one which was decided by the Airport and Aviation Services Sri Lanka (Pvt) Ltd.

Meanwhile, NAO reports also revealed that the Batticaloa International Airport, which was opened in March 2018, has totaled an operating cost of Rs. 86 million over the past five years. However, it has failed to generate any income.