Well let's see. Even I had doubts on Mattala. But Even the UNP-Yahapalana team has acknowledged that they will go ahead with Mattala. I don't know whose right or whose wrong.
The rates are standards. Not astronomical.
How Male cope with air-traffic etc. is their own matter. Not relevant to Sri Lanka. Anyhow Bigger airliners cannot operate from Male. They either have to come to Sri Lanka or India and make a transit.