By: Staff Writer
June 16, Colombo (LNW): Haskoning DHV Nederland B.V, a consulting engineering firm, has been appointed to draft the master plan for the expansion project of the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA).
This latest master plan will concentrate on planning the future of the airport, taking into account capacity, efficiency, and passenger experience to ensure that it is able to accommodate more passenger traffic and meet Sri Lanka’s tourism objectives.
The BIA expansion project aims to increase the airport’s capacity from 6 million to 16 million passengers annually.
This dutch company selected by an international tender will assess the effectiveness of existing infrastructure and technologies, as well as processes, human resources, and the regulatory framework, finance ministry sources revealed.
The Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Private) Ltd had cancelled the contract awarded to the previous consulting company some times back for not following the contract’, and resumed the procurement process, Cabinet Spokesman Nalinda Jayatissa said.
Back in February 2014, the Government of Sri Lanka, with the backing of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), announced the BIA expansion plan. JICA approved a yen loan and tapped Japan Airport Consultants Inc. (JAC) and Nippon Koei for what should’ve been a model infrastructure project.
The consultants and designers—originally brought in through the JICA funding framework—had provided international-standard blueprints. This included specific placement of fuel hydrants on the tarmac, crucial infrastructure that allows airplanes to refuel quickly and safely.
But then came the twist. The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC), specifically a contractor operating under the rather unassuming name VAC, reportedly decided that international standards were just… suggestions.
Instead, VAC insisted on a new fuel hydrant layout, deviating from the original Japanese design and introducing what one COPE member diplomatically called “a logistical and engineering absurdity.” In less polite terms, a complete mess.
This isn’t JAC’s first rodeo, and Sri Lanka isn’t their only client. As a Japanese firm heavily involved in Asian infrastructure projects, JAC has a polished portfolio. But critics argue their BIA engagement reflects a worrying trend: consultancy without consequence.
They were paid to deliver expert design and management. Instead, they delivered bottlenecked bays, awkward aprons, and terminal design choices that have left ground operators fuming—and planes idling.That was the old saga of the consultancy service and its outcome
In a stunning turn of events, the Cabinet Appointed Negotiating Committee (CANC) has taken a monumental stand recently by disqualifying the Sojitz-L&T consortium selected bidder for the the construction of Phase 11 of the BIA project in 2025, citing an invalid Power of Attorney – a move that has electrified public sentiment and revived hope in the integrity of Sri Lankan public service.
The tender for the construction of Phase 11 of the BIA project in 2025 was marred by controversy and delays, with one international bidder, a foreign consortium, facing disqualification.
The tender officially closed on March 25, 2025, and the project was intended to be completed within 30 months, with a final deadline in 2027. .
Cabinet Appointed Negotiating Committee (CANC) has taken a firm stand by disqualifying the consortium, citing an invalid Power of Attorney.
Their bid was questionable due to a lack of attestation of the Power of Attorney (POA) by the local registrar, which was a requirement under Sri Lankan procurement law.
This shortfall, combined with a previous instance when the main partner of the consortium reportedly reneged on a deal after it had been awarded to them, drew eyebrows on the bidder’s accountability and monitoring by responsible authorities.
A sudden extension of the tender deadline, while criticized by other bidders who had already invested resources to meet the original deadline, raised concerns about unfair advantage given to one bidder.
The the BIA Phase II Stage 2 expansion project was ,planned as a state-of-the-art terminal covering 180,000 square meters, a 210,000-square-meter apron, improved road networks, viaducts, and modern passenger facilities. But behind the impressive figures lies growing concern over irregularities in previous consultancy practices.
The initiative aimed to boost the capacity of the country’s sole international gateway in line with the surge in tourism and economic activity following the civil war.
Yet, amid yen loan agreements and final inspection procedures, the vision of streamlined global connectivity has been overshadowed by rising costs, alleged mismanagement, and mounting bureaucratic hurdles.
