The Government is to call for fresh Expressions of Interest (EOIs) from prospective investors interested in the management of the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) and the setting up of direct and indirect aviation-related business ventures at the airport.
Speaking to The Sunday Morning Business, Private Secretary to the Deputy Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation Lasantha Kularathna revealed that the decision by the previous Government to enter into a 30-year management contract for the MRIA with a Joint Venture (JV) comprising India’s Shaurya Aeronautics Ltd. and Russia’s Airports of Regions management company had been abandoned due to issues relating to Sri Lanka’s air sovereignty.
“There were some issues with regard to the conditions of the proposed agreement and their impact on our air sovereignty. However, they have now expressed their willingness to drop most of those conditions and to go ahead with this venture,” Kularathna stated.
Accordingly, he revealed that they were now open to proposals from prospective investors interested in managing the MRIA or setting up aviation-related business ventures at the airport.
He added that the Government was also willing to reconsider the proposal from the India-Russia JV, as well as entertain proposals from new investors.
Similarly, speaking to The Sunday Morning Business, Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Director General and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Air Vice Marshal (Retd) Sagara Kotakadeniya stated that during the preceding week, it had been decided to call for fresh EOIs from prospective investors under seven aspects, covering the management of the MRIA and setting up of direct and indirect aviation-related business ventures at the airport.
“It was decided either yesterday or the day before to call for fresh EOIs based on seven aspects, such as Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO); training; and cargo hub and airport management, without including sensitive areas which may affect air sovereignty, such as air traffic control, search and rescue, and security.
“Those are very sensitive areas. Keeping those sensitive areas aside, we will call for fresh EOIs in respect of the rest of the operations,” he told The Sunday Morning Business on Wednesday (21).
He further clarified that despite having received Cabinet approval, no agreement had ever been entered into with the India-Russia JV.
In April 2024, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to transfer the management of the MRIA to India’s Shaurya Aeronautics and Russia’s Airports of Regions for a period of 30 years.
The Morning
