The Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka has officially certified the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) as a wildlife-safe airport, following the successful implementation of measures to mitigate threats posed by animals in the surrounding area.
This certification comes after a series of proactive steps were taken to prevent wildlife-related hazards, which had previously raised safety concerns for aircraft operations at the airport.
Speaking on the development, Deputy Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation, Ruwan Kodithuwakku, stated that discussions have now commenced to increase the number of airline operations at MRIA, leveraging its newly secured safety status.
Currently, four airlines operate flights to and from Mattala, but authorities are optimistic that the improved safety profile will attract more carriers in the near future.
The Deputy Minister also noted that the arrival of new airlines could help reduce the airport’s operational losses, which currently amount to approximately Rs 250 million per month.
