The benefits of constructing a new airport were discussed, according to the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE) interim report.

The report states that according to the Civil Aviation Authority, the number of aircraft flying over Sri Lanka had improved significantly due to the availability of a high standard airport in Mattala which has the accessibility for immediate landing even for an A380 plane under emergency situations.

COPE has directed the Civil Aviation Authority to submit a certified report to the Committee to prove this fact.

Meanwhile, according to the COPE report, there have been 16,712 departures from the Mattala Mahinda Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) during the first nine months of 2014, from January to September. Arrivals at the MRIA have been only 13,371 during this same period.

COPE has asked for further details on whether there were internal or overseas passenger movements.

While the Katunayake International Airport has handled 7.3 million passengers during 2013, it has handled 5.8 million passengers during the first nine months of the same year.