Sri Lanka's Mattala Has Become 'World's Emptiest Airport'. Can Indian Investment Revive It? | The BriefWire
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Sri Lanka's Mattala Has Become 'World's Emptiest Airport'. Can Indian Investment Revive It?
Published on 5/18/2026, 6:13:50 AM
Key points
Sri Lanka's Mattala Has Become 'World's Emptiest Airport'.
Can Indian Investment Revive It?
Written By, Last Updated: May 18, 2026, 11:43 IST Colombo’s latest investment push has attracted attention in New Delhi because of the airport’s location near the Chinese-operated Hambantota Port Rapid Read Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport near Hambantota.
(Image: Wikimedia) Sri Lanka has reopened the bidding process for the operation and development of the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport near Hambantota, reviving global attention around a facility once branded the “world’s emptiest airport".
The move comes amid renewed Indian interest in strategic infrastructure projects in the island nation, particularly in regions where Chinese-backed investments have long dominated the landscape.
Quick context: Sri Lanka's Mattala Has Become 'World's Emptiest Airport'.
The BriefWire