Sri Lanka is set to further modernise passenger handling at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) with the introduction of automated clearance gates at the departure terminal, aimed at improving efficiency and accuracy in passenger processing.
The initiative forms part of a broader airport upgrade programme launched in 2023 under a cooperation agreement between the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Government of Japan. The project is funded through a Japanese grant of 1,170 million yen under the initiative titled “Preparation for Border Infectious Disease Control in Southeast Asian Countries.
As part of the programme, four automatic passenger clearance gates have already been installed at the airport’s arrival terminal, with operations expected to commence shortly. Authorities believe that extending the same automated system to the departure terminal will ensure a consistent clearance methodology while reducing congestion and processing times.
The Cabinet of Ministers has now approved a proposal submitted by the Minister of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs to install four automatic passenger clearance gates at the BIA departure terminal in 2026, marking another step towards aligning Sri Lanka’s main international airport with global standards.
