President Anura Kumara Dissanayake chaired a high-level discussion at the Presidential Secretariat to review the progress of the Ministry of Ports and Civil Aviation during 2026 and its budget proposals for 2027.
According to the President’s Media Division (PMD), the meeting assessed the performance of the Ministry and its affiliated institutions, including the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA), Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd. (AASL), Ceylon Shipping Corporation Ltd. (CSCL), SriLankan Airlines, SriLankan Catering, the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL), the Merchant Shipping Secretariat, Sri Lanka Port Management and Consultancy Services (Pvt.) Ltd. and Jaya Container Terminals Ltd. (JCT).
The discussion also reviewed the progress of projects funded under the 2026 Budget and examined proposals to be included in the 2027 Budget.
Officials briefed the President on several major infrastructure projects being implemented under the Sri Lanka Ports Development Programme with financial assistance from the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India. These include the rehabilitation of Kankesanthurai Port.
The meeting also focused on plans for the proposed Logistics Park at the Port of Colombo, the extension of the southern breakwater, the second phase of the Western Container Terminal and the digitalisation of all port operations to improve efficiency.
The President was also updated on a long-term development plan for Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) at Katunayake, aimed at meeting Sri Lanka’s aviation requirements over the next three decades. The PMD said the three-year development programme is expected to increase the airport’s annual passenger handling capacity to 24.2 million by 2055.
Under the second phase of the Bandaranaike International Airport Development Project, scheduled for completion in 2027, authorities plan to expand the existing arrival and departure terminals, construct a new terminal building and upgrade depot facilities.
President Dissanayake emphasised the need to improve passenger transport services in and around Bandaranaike International Airport and called for greater efficiency in airport operations.
The meeting also revealed that the Ministry of Ports and Civil Aviation is working with the Ministry of Digital Affairs to fully digitalise airport services.
Attention was also given to development work at domestic airports, including Hingurakgoda Airport. The President instructed officials to establish a more effective coordination mechanism with the Sri Lanka Air Force for the operation of civil passenger services and directed the relevant authorities to jointly assess the operational requirements of each domestic airport.
Officials informed the President that Mattala International Airport is currently incurring daily losses of between Rs. 6 million and Rs. 7 million, resulting in annual losses of approximately Rs. 4 billion. Alternative proposals to improve the airport’s financial performance were presented, while it was noted that investment proposals have already been invited and the selection process is expected to be completed by 2027.
The meeting also confirmed that work has commenced on upgrading the passenger terminal and improving facilities at Jaffna International Airport.
President Dissanayake stressed that the institutions under the Ministry should make effective use of their financial resources and manage future development projects in a manner that maximises returns to the State Treasury without placing an additional burden on taxpayers.
The meeting was attended by Minister of Ports, Civil Aviation and Energy Anura Karunathilaka, Deputy Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku, Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Chief of Presidential Staff Prabath Chandrakeerthi, Senior Additional Secretary to the President and Secretary to the Ministry of Energy Russel Aponsu, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma, Secretary to the Ministry of Ports and Civil Aviation W. W. S. Mangala, and senior officials from the Ministries of Finance and Ports and Civil Aviation.