An advisory committee appointed by the Sri Lankan Cabinet has decided to award a 30-year contract to Shaurya Aeronautics (Pvt) Ltd of India and Zonal Airport Management Company of Russia to manage the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport in Hambantota.

The project has been awarded An Indian and Russian company will jointly manage Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport in Hambantota, Sri Lanka, a government spokesman said on Friday.

The US$209 million facility was previously called the "emptiest airport in the world" due to... Lack of flights.

The Sri Lankan Cabinet, which met on January 9, agreed to invite potential parties to express expressions of interest, government spokesman and Minister Bandula Gunawardena said. To reporters here.

Accordingly, five proposals were received, and the Cabinet-appointed advisory committee decided to award a 30-year management contract to the Indian company Shaurya Aeronautics (Pvt) Ltd and the Russian Regional Airport Management Company.

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Gunawardena said the Cabinet approved the proposal submitted by the Minister of Civil Aviation and Airport Services.

Matala Airport, named after former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, was one of Rajapaksa's major infrastructure projects. A reign that lasted nearly a decade.

The project was financed by high-interest Chinese commercial loans.

It was built at a cost of US$209 million, of which US$190 million came from a loan With high interest from Exim Bank of China.

Since 2016, the government has been looking for business partners to manage the airport as it has been incurring huge losses.