Is Sri Lanka’s investor call for ‘world’s emptiest airport’ struggling to get off ground?

The nation’s second international airport, built with Chinese loan, is located near a wildlife sanctuary on the island’s southern coast. It has no regular flights.

Since opening in 2013, the small airport has failed to generate enough revenue to cover even its electricity bills – and has been straining state coffers.

“It was a vanity project from the outset by the former prime minister, after whom it is named, who borrowed heavily from China to fund its construction,” said Gary Bowerman, an Asia travel, tourism and consumer analyst.

“It was sold on the basis of its proximity to the Hambantota port and Chinese developments around it, but it is a heavily commercial port without much cruise traffic.”