Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (IATA: HRI, ICAO: VCRI), also referred to as Hambantota International Airport, is Sri Lanka's second international airport. Situated near the small town of Mattala — roughly 15 km north of Hambantota in the Southern Province — it was designed to relieve pressure on Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo and to serve as a strategic gateway for the country's developing south.
Where exactly is Mattala Airport located?
The airport sits within the Hambantota District of Sri Lanka's Southern Province, a flat, semi-arid landscape that differs markedly from the lush coastline nearby. Hambantota town is about 15 km to the south, while Colombo lies approximately 230 km to the northwest. The site was originally proposed for Weerawila, closer to a sensitive wetland ecosystem, but environmental concerns prompted planners to relocate it to the current Mattala site.
For travellers, Mattala serves as a practical entry and exit point when a holiday itinerary is concentrated in the deep south — think Udawalawe National Park, Yala, Tissamaharama, or the coastal belt between Tangalle and Hambantota.
What is the history behind Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport?
Planning for a southern international airport began in earnest in the mid-2000s. Once the Weerawila site was ruled out, Mattala was selected and construction of the first phase — a project valued at around USD 209 million — started in November 2009. Funding and construction were provided through the Chinese government and the China Harbour Engineering Company.
The airport's inaugural test flight took place on 16 October 2012, when a Hawker Beechcraft B200 (registered AP-CAB, Pakistan) landed to begin eight days of instrument and ILS calibration testing. Shortly after, a Sri Lankan Airlines Airbus A330-200 completed the first commercial-size test landing. The airport formally opened on 18 March 2013, making it Sri Lanka's second operating international airport after Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA).
The airport was built to accommodate wide-body aircraft up to the Airbus A380 standard and was designed in alignment with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) guidelines. Its terminal was sized to handle over 800 international passengers during peak hours.
What facilities does Mattala Airport offer?
Despite its ambitious infrastructure, MRIA operates on a limited schedule compared with BIA. The airport features:
- A single full-length runway capable of handling wide-body jets
- A passenger terminal with check-in counters, immigration, and customs facilities
- A cargo facility intended to support air-sea transshipment in conjunction with Hambantota Port, roughly 25 km away
- Apron stands, taxiways, and navigation systems compliant with ICAO standards
Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd (AASL) operates the facility. Travellers should confirm current airline schedules before planning to use HRI, as flight frequency varies and has been subject to change since the airport's opening.
How do I get from Mattala Airport to nearby destinations?
Ground transport from MRIA is straightforward, though options are more limited than at BIA. Private transfers remain the most reliable way to reach hotels and attractions in the region. Taxis and private drivers can be pre-arranged through a destination management company or booked at the terminal.
| Destination | Approximate Distance | Typical Drive Time |
|---|---|---|
| Hambantota town | ~15 km | 20–25 min |
| Tissamaharama | ~35 km | 40–50 min |
| Udawalawe National Park | ~60 km | 1–1.5 hrs |
| Tangalle | ~60 km | 1–1.5 hrs |
| Galle | ~140 km | 2.5–3 hrs |
| Colombo | ~230 km | 3.5–4 hrs |
Why was the airport built at Mattala specifically?
The Hambantota District was identified as a high-priority development zone in the early 2000s. Alongside the deep-water Hambantota Port and an international cricket stadium, the airport was conceived as part of a broader infrastructure push to diversify economic activity away from the Western Province. The region's flat terrain and low population density made it technically suitable for a large airport footprint, which ultimately covers around 2,000 hectares.
Planners also envisioned MRIA acting as a complementary hub for cargo, particularly for air-sea transshipment between the airport and the port — a model used successfully in other parts of Asia. The airport's eco-friendly design criteria were incorporated to mitigate the environmental impact of such a large project in a landscape that borders sensitive ecosystems, including areas that support species found in nearby wildlife sanctuaries.
What wildlife and natural attractions are near Mattala Airport?
One of the airport's compelling advantages for nature travellers is its proximity to some of Sri Lanka's premier wildlife destinations. The semi-arid scrub around Hambantota is itself home to elephants, crocodiles, and a range of bird species. Within a short drive, visitors can access:
- Yala National Park — Sri Lanka's most visited national park and one of the best places in the world to observe leopards in the wild
- Udawalawe National Park — renowned for large elephant herds and the adjacent Elephant Transit Home, a rehabilitation centre for orphaned calves
- Bundala National Park — a Ramsar-listed wetland and important wintering ground for migratory waders
- Sinharaja Forest Reserve — Sri Lanka's last viable area of primary lowland rainforest; around 3 hours from the airport
Is Mattala a good airport to fly into for a southern Sri Lanka itinerary?
For itineraries focused on the south and southeast — Yala, Udawalawe, the Cultural Triangle via a southern approach, or beach holidays between Tangalle and Mirissa — flying into HRI can save several hours of road travel compared with arriving at BIA. The key consideration is route availability: always verify that your airline operates into HRI before building an itinerary around it, as scheduled services have fluctuated. If direct international connectivity to HRI is limited on your travel dates, arriving at BIA and arranging a private transfer south remains a comfortable, well-trodden option.