Three SriLankan Airlines flights—UL196, UL172, and UL124—departing from Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake were diverted to Thiruvananthapuram International Airport in India due to adverse weather conditions.
However, the decision to divert these flights to India has sparked questions as to why they were not rerouted to Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA), a domestic alternative within Sri Lanka.
According to reliable sources, flight operations at MRIA are currently suspended daily from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. This suspension is reportedly due to damage to the elephant fence surrounding the airport premises. The fence, which serves as a barrier to prevent wild animals from accessing the airfield, is presently in disrepair, rendering night-time aircraft operations unsafe.
This operational limitation has raised concerns over resource management and crisis preparedness. The inability to utilize local infrastructure like MRIA has led to disruptions, including delays in long-haul routes such as the Colombo-Melbourne service. Additionally, the diversions to Indian airports are incurring significant extra costs for the national carrier, SriLankan Airlines, which is already grappling with financial difficulties.
