By Nizla Naizer
The Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) is to be upgraded with a new terminal and better facilities costing US$300 million, Aviation Ministry officials said.
Secretary to the Ministry of Ports and Aviation, Thosapala Hewage speaking to The Bottom Line said that the proposed Stage two of the project will be done with assistance from Japan, and will also bring eight new aerobridges along with separate arrival and departure entrances.
The expansion is to start next year and is expected to take three years to complete. “We are being assisted financially by the Japanese Bank for International Cooperation which will provide the bulk of the funding required, and we will provide the rest,” he said.
“We have already provided the consultancy contract under stage one of this project. They will be given six months to prepare and the second stage will begin next year after the tenders are called and finalized. The Japanese assisted us with phase one and pledged to continue assistance during this stage as well,” he explained. “They will also provide vital technical expertise which we lack to conduct operations.”
The new terminal is expected to bring more passengers to Sri Lanka and at the same time provide the airport with much needed space. Hewage said that plans are also underway to create a new runway. “We have identified suitable locations near the BIA, and feasibility reports will be done by the end of this month.” The new runway will probably be started on next year.
TBL
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