Aviation infrastructure facility Development of the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) is progressing well even amidst the economic crisis and that the enhanced facilities would be available for use by the end of 2024, Civil Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva disclosed.
He was speaking at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) meeting at Montreal – Canada on Saturday 01 2022.
,He said “Development of aviation infrastructure facilities, which include expansion and modernization of the main International Airport of Sri Lanka – the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) terminal building, apron, and access roads are progressing well even amidst the economic crisis.
He expressed the hope that the enhanced facilities would be available for use by the end of 2024 to serve the industry and our travel partners better”
Sri Lanka has published the National Civil Aviation Policy removing numerous legislative, administrative, and operational barriers easing active private sector participation in the establishment and operational of aviation infrastructure facilities and services.,” he said
The Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) is to construct the second phase of the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA); project costing around SLR 37bn, to be funded by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
The Cabinet approved the project and every effort would be made to expedite it within three years; the current terminal building designed to accommodate only 6.5 million passengers is handling at present 10.9 million passengers.
The new massive Terminal Building with both departures and arrivals facilities is expected to house departures facilities on the upper floor while the arrivals will be on the lower floor and the building is expected to include a rail facility linking it to the Colombo Fort Railway Station.
The BIA modernization programme is expected to enhance its passenger handling capacity significantly.
Under Phase II of the BIA expansion project, the passenger handling capacity will be doubled to 12 million passengers per annum.
Upon completion, BIA will be equipped with elevated roadways and roads, a new pier with 8 gates, a remote apron and taxiways.ri Lanka has the potential to emerge as an aviation hub in the region.
The second phase of the BIA modernization project would reinvigorate the aviation industry to serve the growing number of tourists visiting the country.
The growth in the air transportation is expected to create a demand for aircraft maintenance, repairs, re-building, bunkering and catering services which would provide an opportunity for development of an efficient aviation industry in the country.
Sri Lanka has been striving to meet the international standards of the aviation industry and adopt recommended practices with a view to emerge as an aviation hub in the region.
Furthermore, Sri Lanka has taken steps to develop domestic airports at Ampara, Koggala, China-Bay, Jaffna and Ratmalana. These will then be developed as “City Airports” aimed at developing the market for charter flights and private jet operations.
On completion of the second Terminal building, BIA will be able to handle total capacity of 20 million passengers per annum; with the number of Terminal Gates increasing twofold by 2023.
It would have modern baggage handling facilities; more space for passengers and new Immigration/ Emigration facilities with a bigger apron to accommodate 36 aircrafts.
