Sri Lanka is planning to build an MRO facility at its upcoming Hambantota International Airport.

Construction of the country's second international airport, located in the Mattala area in the Hambantota district, is almost completed and it is due to open in the first quarter of 2013. The $206 million project is funded by China's Ex-Im Bank.

The new MRO facility will increase employment opportunities and also stimulate economic development in the country's southern region, says Sri Lanka's ministry of defence and urban development. No further details were mentioned.

An additional loan of yen (Y) 28.9 billion has also been secured from the Japan International Cooperation Agency for further expansion works at the airport to be completed by 2015. This includes expansion of the airport's terminal building, aircraft parking apron and public utilities.

Source: Air Transport Intelligence news