(COLOMBO, LANKAPUVATH) –Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga says Immigration and Emigration facilities at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) at Katunayake will be expanded with the aim is to reduce air passenger congestion.
Under the initiative, the number of emigration counters has been increased from 18 to 23 and the number of immigration windows will be increased from 25 to 31, he said
These immigration and emigration counters are also equipped with the latest technology.
The Minister recently inspected the new emigration windows currently being constructed at the Katunayake Airport.
Minister Ranatunga said that work is in progress to improve the area reserved for emigration with new facilities, allocation of a new area with facilities for immigration activities and to build a duty free shopping mall.
A new immigration cargo terminal is also planned to be built in several phases.
The annual passenger capacity of the BIA is 06 million passengers. At present, the Airport handles 10 million passengers annually. The Minister also said that the operational BIA Expansion Project will be able to increase the annual passenger capacity to 15 million.
Restructuring and refurbishment work of the existing passenger terminals has also commenced to increase the passenger capacity.
The Minister also said that modernization of several existing restrooms is planned to provide this service to passengers who request rest facilities during their stay at the airport.
