The project to construct Sri Lanka’s second international airport at Mattala, Hambantota was launched by President Mahinda Rajapaksa on November 27, 2009.The airport will be a boon to the local aviation industry while being a catalyst for the economic development of the Southern Province by enabling international trade, tourism, vocational training and employment.
The new airport will be geared to support both international and domestic travel and air-sea cargo transshipment in conjunction with the Hambantota sea port and will be the alternative to the Bandaranaike International Airport. The amount spent on the entire project is US$ 220 million. The Chinese government provides financial assistance. The area allocated for the airport is 2,000 hectares. Construction takes place in two stages:
Stage I - Initial development
Basic aerodrome facilities, runway, apron, taxiway, passenger and cargo terminals Access roads, accommodation for officials, fuel farm, sewerage treatment plant, water supply facilities, meteorological building, fire building, catering facility and car park
Stage II - Second stage development
A full length parallel taxiway, a flying school, an airport hotel and recreational facilities