SkyUp Airlines PQ-555 outward flight to Ukraine carried 658.5kg fish and seafood from Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) on 8 January 2021. This fish and seafood exports were comprised of edible Tuna, Prawns and Mullets.

“Sri Lanka has emerged as a quality fish and seafood exporter, addressing such opportunities, MRIA is ready and equipped to handle increased volumes of seafood air freight cargo in the future,” Shehan Sumanasekara, Director of Operations, Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Private) Limited said.

As an island with a territorial sea of 21,500 km2 and a coastline of 1340 km, Sri Lanka has a rich supply of fish and seafood. MRIA is positioned as an exotic tourism destination utilizing its strategic geographical location to boost passenger movements and now aggressively marketing its capability to attract cargo exports from Sri Lanka while establishing an international market for the local producers to market fresh vegetables, fisheries, fresh fruits and ornamental fish which brings in foreign remittances.

Further, Sumanasekara stated that plans have been set to promote MRIA as a cargo transshipment hub in the future linking the airport and seaport via bonded trucking / rail.