Plans to fully digitalise all airport services

Colombo, July 16 (Daily Mirror) - The Ministry of Ports and Civil Aviation has revealed that the Ministry is working in collaboration with the Ministry of Digital Affairs to fully digitalise all airport services. 

This was revealed during a special discussion held yesterday afternoon at the Presidential Secretariat under the chairmanship of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on the progress of the Ministry of Ports and Civil Aviation during 2026 and its budget allocations for 2027.

The meeting reviewed the performance of the Ministry and its affiliated institutions, including the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA), Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Private) Limited (AASL), Ceylon Shipping Corporation Limited (CSCL), SriLankan Airlines (SLA), SriLankan Catering, the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL), the Merchant Shipping Secretariat, Sri Lanka Port Management and Consultancy Services (Private) Limited and Jaya Container Terminals Limited (JCT). 

"Progress made on projects implemented under the 2026 budget allocations, as well as proposals for the 2027 Budget, were also reviewed. The President was briefed on the progress of several key development initiatives under the Sri Lanka Ports Development Programme, implemented by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority with financial assistance from the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of India," the Presidential Media Division (PMD) said.

These included the rehabilitation of Kankesanthurai Port. Extensive discussions were also held on the proposed Logistics Park at the Port of Colombo, the extension of the southern breakwater, the implementation of the second phase of the Western Container Terminal and the digitalisation of all port operations to improve efficiency. 

Officials also briefed the President on a long-term development plan to enhance the operational efficiency of Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), Katunayake, designed to meet the country's aviation needs over the next 30 years. The three-year development programme aims to increase the airport's annual passenger handling capacity to 24.2 million by 2055. Under the second phase of the Bandaranaike International Airport Development Project, scheduled for completion during 2027, plans include the expansion of the existing arrival and departure terminals, the construction of a new terminal building and the expansion of depot facilities. The President also emphasised the need to streamline and improve the efficiency of passenger transport services in and around Bandaranaike International Airport. 

The President instructed officials to establish a more efficient coordination mechanism with the Sri Lanka Air Force for the operation of civil passenger services at these airports. He further directed the Ministry of Ports and Civil Aviation and the Sri Lanka Air Force to jointly review the operational requirements of each domestic airport and prepare an assessment report. 

The meeting also revealed that Mattala International Airport is currently incurring daily losses of between Rs. 6 million and Rs. 7 million, amounting to an annual loss of approximately Rs. 4 billion. 

Alternative proposals to address this situation were presented to the President. Officials noted that investment proposals for the airport have already been called for and that the relevant process is expected to be completed by 2027.