Sri Lanka, April 28 -- The Government will hand over the management of the US$ 209 million Chinese-built Mattala Mahinda Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA, IATA code HRI) to two Indian and Russian companies, according to a Cabinet statement issued on Friday. This is welcome news, given the airport's reputation for making huge losses.

The airport's management will be handed over to Shaurya Aeronautics (Pvt) Ltd. of India and Airports of Regions Management Company of Russia for 30 years, the Cabinet statement said. This is part of the Government's attempts to reduce losses from its State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs).

The MRIA was an ego-driven project, for which there was no demand and no rationale. Yes, Sri Lanka needed a second internat...