Shipping and Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva disclosed that Sri Lanka is set to invite expressions of interest (EOI) for the operation of Jaffna International Airport through a public-private partnership. Preparatory work is currently in progress, and the EOI process is expected to be initiated shortly.
Jaffna Airport, located in Palaly, was granted international airport status and presently accommodates scheduled flights from India, primarily operated by smaller turboprop aircraft. However, to facilitate the landing of larger jets, particularly those in the Airbus A320 class, the airport requires a runway extension.
Minister de Silva also revealed that Sri Lanka is nearing the final stages of awarding the management of Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport. A consortium comprising Russian and Indian companies is poised to take over the responsibilities of overseeing operations at the airport.
