<p>The Sri Lankan government is trying to revive its ‘white elephant’ second airport by offering tax breaks and subsidised fuel, reports AFP.</p>
<p>The Mattala Rajapaksa airport, built with Chinese loans during the presidency of current prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa in his home district of Hambantota, employs around 550 workers but has failed to generate enough business to pay the staff bill, let alone generate a profit.</p>
<p>The airport has not had any scheduled services since Flydubai pulled flights in June 2018.</p>
<p>Until the most recent presidential elections which put the Rajapaksas back in government, the previous administration had been in talks with with India to convert the airport to an aircraft maintenance facility.</p>
<p>Sri Lankan authorities have now announced plans to suspend the airport’s departure tax for two years and allow airlines free landing and parking.</p>
<p>Other proposed incentives include discounted rates for ground handling services and concessionary fares for migrant workers.</p>
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