Govt invites Expressions of Interest (EOI) for the Mattala Airport (MRIA)

The Government has invited Expressions of Interest (EOI) for the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA), offering, among other things, exemptions from exchange control regulations to any prospective investor.

The closing date for submission of EOIs was initially fixed for August 12 but has now been extended till August 26, 2016.  A briefing visit to the location is to take place on the afternoon of August 18. Other incentives offered include tax holidays and long-term lease options.

The Government has struggled to put the ailing airport to use, even implementing an open skies policy in April 2015.  This gave international operators all nine “freedoms of the air”, including the liberty to use the airport as a base for commercial airline operations. But it did little to attract foreign interest.

In an advertisement published on the website of the Airport and Aviation Services Ltd website, the Ministry of Transport and Aviation has invited EOIs from national and international entrepreneurs for investments and commercial operations of MRIA. The aerodrome facility consists of a 3,500m x 60m runway, apron, taxiways and passenger cargo terminal. MRIA is a 24-hour, full-service operational airport that can accommodate the world’s biggest cargo and passenger aircrafts.

MRIA is publicized as being strategically located, just 30km from the Hambantota deep water seaport. It is said to be in close proximity to major tourism hotspots with domestic air taxi connectivity between two international and 14 domestic airports. It has also been declared a specified bonded area and free trade zone.