The latest report issued by the National Audit Office states that the cost (operational cost) of Mattala International Airport has exceeded 200 crore rupees, but that cost is about twenty times more than the income.
It also shows that the amount of more than 3656 crore rupees spent for the construction of this airport has not been used effectively.
Mattala Airport’s net loss after tax in 2021 was 400 crore rupees and the net loss after tax from 2017 to 2021 is more than 2000 crore rupees, according to the heads of the audit department.
The audit report says that although the expected annual passenger capacity of the airport is ten lakhs, only ninety one thousand seven hundred and forty seven passengers have arrived in the last five years.
It further states that the company had paid more than 261 crore rupees as an annual loan installment, including interest, for the loan of 19 crore US dollars taken for the construction of the airport.