Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (IATA: HRI, ICAO: VCRI), also known as Hambantota International Airport, is the second international airport in Sri Lanka, located in Mattala, approximately 18 kilometres north of Hambantota in the Southern Province. It serves as an alternative gateway to Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo and provides access to popular southern and eastern tourist destinations including Yala National Park, Tangalle, Mirissa, and Galle.
The airport was constructed with considerable public investment, primarily funded by the Chinese government, and officially commenced operations on 18 March 2013. It is named after former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The airport is operated by Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Private) Limited.
HRI features a single runway, 05/23, with a length of 3,500 metres, making it capable of accommodating the world’s largest passenger aircraft, the Airbus A380 (code 4F). The passenger terminal spans 12,000 square metres and is designed to handle one million passengers per annum. The airport also has a cargo terminal with an area of 10,000 square metres and a 35-metre-tall air traffic control tower.
In 2025, Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport recorded its highest-ever passenger movements since commencing operations, handling 140,614 passengers and 703 international flights. The airport has faced prolonged underutilization in previous years, with airlines reluctant to operate flights due to safety concerns related to wildlife activity in the surrounding area. Proactive measures taken by the government to mitigate these risks helped restore airline confidence, contributing to increased aircraft movements during 2025. Several international airlines operated flights to Mattala in 2025, connecting Sri Lanka with destinations in Europe, the Middle East, and South Asia, including Red Wings from Russia, SkyUp from Pakistan, Fly One from Dubai, Centrum Air and Uzbekistan Airways from Uzbekistan, Bulgaria Air, and Belavia Airlines from Minsk, Belarus.