COLOMBO, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport recorded its highest passenger traffic in 2025 since beginning operations in 2013, according to Sri Lanka's ports and civil aviation ministry.
Airport officials said passenger movements at Mattala reached 140,614 during the year, the highest level recorded since the airport opened. The airport also handled 703 international flights during 2025.
Constructed with considerable public investment, Mattala, Sri Lanka's second international airport, had faced prolonged underutilization in previous years. Notably, airlines had been reluctant to operate flights to the airport due to safety concerns related to wildlife activity in the surrounding area. Officials said measures implemented to address these issues contributed to the increase in international flights during 2025.
The airport plays a role in supporting Sri Lanka's tourism sector by providing access to domestic tourist destinations in the southern and eastern regions. It also serves as an alternative to congestion at Bandaranaike International Airport. ■