Sri Lanka’s MRIA investor agreements targeted within eight months
The Morning: The Ministry of Ports and Civil Aviation expects to enter into agreements with interested investors for the development of the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) within the next eight months, with the redevelopment targeted to commence under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model by mid-2027.Speaking to The Morning Business, Deputy Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku said that the ministry had received bids from 19 potential investors at the recently concluded Expression of Interest (EOI) process for the development of the MRIA. He added that the ministry was currently evaluating the proposals.Kodithuwakku further stated that the next step would be to commence the Request for Proposal (RFP) process, which he revealed would take around another one-and-a-half to two months to commence. Thereafter, following the evaluation of the proposals submitted by the 19 investors under the EOI process, the selected parties who meet the tender specifications and qualifications will be invited to submit proposals under the RFP process.“We are hopeful of commencing the redevelopment of the MRIA under a PPP model by mid-2027. We expect to enter into new agreements with new investors within the next eight months,” he stated.Speaking to The Morning Business earlier this year, the Deputy Minister revealed plans to invite fresh EOIs under multiple service categories for the comprehensive and holistic development of the airport, opting to cancel the EOI process commenced by the previous regime, which had called only for a passenger operator for the MRIA.Accordingly, a fresh Cabinet paper had been filed seeking fresh EOIs for the restructured project under several service categories.At the time, the Deputy Minister explained that the restructured project was to be segmented into distinct categories for which EOIs would be solicited separately, including Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO), passenger operations, cargo, hotel and hospitality services, and flying schools.
OSL take:
Sri Lanka’s plans to redevelop MRIA through a PPP highlight the growing business/investment opportunities for foreign businesses/investors to participate directly in the country’s infrastructure and development programme. With 19 investors having submitted EoIs for MRIA, the project demonstrates the renewed interest in Sri Lanka’s infrastructure assets. The Sri Lankan Government’s decision to seek investors across multiple service categories also creates opportunities beyond airport operations, including aviation services, cargo and logistics, commercial facilities, tourism infrastructure, retail, hospitality and airport-related real estate. Similar business/investment opportunities are emerging across Sri Lanka’s wider development agenda as the Sri Lankan Government seeks greater private-sector participation in infrastructure, transport, energy, tourism and urban development. For foreign businesses, the PPP model provides an avenue to bring capital, technology and international operational expertise into major projects while gaining access to Sri Lanka’s growing domestic economy and strategic position in the Indian Ocean. The MRIA redevelopment could therefore become a broader indicator of Sri Lanka’s evolving investment landscape, where public infrastructure is increasingly being developed as commercially viable platforms for long-term private and foreign investment.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/20260909Z_2 |