SriLankan Airlines (UL, Colombo International) says it will terminate services to Hambantota in southeast Sri Lanka with effect from February 9 onwards. In a statement, the carrier said its services to Colombo International as well as its use an intermediate stopover on flights to Jeddah International, Beijing Capital, and Shanghai Pudong no longer proved commercially viable.

“The immediate schedule changes which will see the airline rationalising its scheduled operations to and via Hambantota's Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) and enhancing capacity to other high demand Middle East destinations, while reducing capacity to underperforming routes such as Moscow Domodedovo," the airline said. "This translates to an annual bottom line improvement of approximately USD18 million.”

As it stands, Hambantota is still served by flydubai, Mihin Lanka, and Rotana Jet Aviation.