Airport and Aviation Services Limited has decided to install a prefabricated terminal as an immediate measure to mitigate the congestion that has been created at the Katunayake Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) with the increased tourist movement and the construction of the second terminal, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Aviation said issuing a press release.
Expressing views at the airport, the Minister said: “A larger number of passengers are expected to call at the Katunayake Bandaranaike International Airport in the near future. We are ready to fully facilitate them with practical solutions utilising our available resources. An increased number of flights have been planned at the Palali airport in Jaffna and Mattala airport in Hambantota. In order to cater facilitation to passengers arriving and departing the Katunayake Bandaranaike International Airport, the installation of the prefabricated terminal is scheduled to be completed within six months with the investments of funds through the airport.”
According to the BIA authorities, the present passenger arrivals and departures have reached nearly 25,000 at the BIA.
The Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Private) Limited is expected to spend about Rs. 15 billion on the said construction. The prefabricated terminal will be utilised for domestic flight operations after the completion of construction of Terminal 2 at the BIA.
The Minister of Ports, Shipping and Aviation Nimal Siripala de Silva made a special inspection visit at the site of the construction on Wednesday (23). Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Private) Limited Chairman Major General (Rtd.) G.A. Chandrasiri and several other officials also participated in the occasion.
