Adani Group could operate three airports in Sri Lanka, minister says

Sri Lankan authorities plan to work with businessman Gautam Adani’s Adani Group to manage the airport, said Harin Fernando, Sri Lanka’s Minister of Tourism, Land, Sports and Youth Affairs.

“We have plans to collaborate with Adani Group on the management of the airport,” Fernando said. Said Hindu Business Line alongside programs in Mumbai.

Negotiations are currently underway and the Indian conglomerate has been offered three airports, including Colombo’s Bandarnaike International Airport. Sri Lanka’s main international gateway, opened in 1970, was named after the fourth Prime Minister Solomon his Bandarnaike.

The other two facilities are Ratmalana Airport (also in Colombo) and Mattala Airport. In 2017, the latter was named “the world’s emptiest international airport” by Forbes magazine, due to the low number of flights despite the large size of the facility.

The plan to bring in a private partner in airport management comes at a time when Sri Lanka’s tourism is making a comeback, with 1.48 million (1.48 million) visitors expected in 2023, almost double the number from the previous year. It was held on.

The largest group of tourists to Sri Lanka in 2023 will be from India, with a rate of 37%.

First foray into overseas aviation

Adani Group currently has a portfolio of eight airports in India, but if the agreement with Sri Lanka is finalized, it will be the company’s first foray into overseas aviation business. However, it already exists in the ports and renewable energy sectors of Indian Ocean countries, and has secured $553 million (approximately 550 million yen). INR460 billion) for the Colombo-based Western Container Terminal project, with funding provided by the United States International Development Finance Corporation.

“We have a target of 2.3 million tourists in 2024 and we are very hopeful that we will achieve that goal. We aim to attract 4 million tourists by 2030. We have to undertake large-scale development projects,” said Sri Lankan Minister Fernando.