In a significant development, a partnership between an Indian and a Russian firm has been awarded the management contract for Sri Lanka’s Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport in Hambantota. Approved by the Sri Lankan Cabinet, the agreement grants a 30-year management contract to Shaurya Aeronautics (Pvt) Ltd of India and Airports of Regions Management Company of Russia. Once dubbed the “world’s emptiest airport,” Mattala Airport was a major project during former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s tenure, funded by high-interest Chinese commercial loans. With heavy losses incurred, the government has sought commercial partners since 2016 to manage the facility.
Indian-Russian Joint Venture to Manage Mattala Airport in Sri Lanka
![](https://affairsace-media.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/2024/04/28143041/2024-03-11T170844Z_474801504_RC2SJ6AZ18VK_RTRMADP_3_MUSK-AI-ezgif.com-avif-to-jpg-converter-860x484.jpg)