Sri Lanka is exploring the possibility of partnering with the Adani Group, led by industrialist Gautam Adani, to oversee the management of three key airports in the country. Harin Fernando, the Minister for Tourism, Land, Sports, and Youth Affairs in Sri Lanka, disclosed these plans during an interaction with The Hindu’s Businessline in Mumbai.
The Adani Group, which presently operates a portfolio of eight airports in India, is being offered management responsibilities for three Sri Lankan airports. The notable airports in consideration include Colombo’s Bandarnaike International Airport, Ratmalana Airport (also in Colombo), and Mattala Airport.
Bandarnaike International Airport, named after Solomon Bandarnaike, the fourth Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, has been a pivotal international gateway since its inauguration in 1970. The other two airports, particularly Mattala Airport, gained attention in 2017 when Forbes labeled it as ‘The World’s Emptiest International Airport’ due to its large size and low flight activity.
The move to involve a private partner for airport management aligns with Sri Lanka’s tourism resurgence, with a notable 1.48 million visitors in 2023, nearly doubling the previous year’s figures. India accounted for the largest share of tourists, contributing 37% of the arrivals.
For the Adani Group, this potential deal signifies its maiden foray into overseas aviation, expanding its footprint beyond the Indian subcontinent. The conglomerate is already active in Sri Lanka’s ports and renewable energy sectors, having secured significant funding for its Colombo-based west container terminal project from the US International Development Finance Corporation.
Minister Harin Fernando expressed optimism about the tourism targets, stating, “We are targeting 2.3 million tourists in 2024, and we are quite hopeful we will reach the target. By 2030, we hope to attract four million visitors. That’s why we have to go for massive development projects.”
