Phase II of the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) expansion project was inaugurated by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday.

The project is the largest development project to be launched in Sri Lanka this year.

The project will be constructed in two parts, “Package A” and “Package B” funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The Government of Japan has provided a loan of Rs. 131.5 billion for the project which will see the construction of a new multi-level passenger terminal building at the BIA in Katunayake.

This new building will increase the passenger handling capacity of the BIA to nearly 15 million passengers per annum.

The project will incorporate Japanese advanced technology and expertise to enable the building to provide barrier-free access and environmentally friendly features beneficial for both the people and nature.

The Japanese Embassy in Colombo pointed out that the BIA project stands as an icon of the friendship between Sri Lanka and Japan, as it edges close to the 70th anniversary of Japan-Sri Lanka diplomatic relations in 2022. 

-NewsWire

State-run SriLankan Airlines would get a 150 million dollar cash injection in 2020 which would be part of a 500 million dollar to be injected in the medium term, Prime Minister and Finance Mahinda Rajapaksa said.

SriLankan has been badly hit by a Coronavirus crises but it is running relief flights, cargo flights to make money.