Sri Lanka plans airport expansion to handle 24.2 million passengers annually by 2055

Sri Lanka plans to expand the passenger-handling capacity of Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake, targeting an annual capacity of 24.2 million passengers by 2055, the President's Media Division (PMD) said on Thursday.

Officials presented the long-term expansion plan at a meeting chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat, the PMD said.

In 2027, Sri Lanka plans to expand the existing arrivals and departures terminals, build a new terminal and enlarge depot facilities at BIA.

The government expects to complete the airport's broader development strategy within three years to meet projected aviation demand over the next three decades, the PMD said.

Authorities are also working with the Ministry of Digital Affairs to fully digitalise airport services to improve the passenger experience and operational efficiency.

Officials said Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport was losing between 6 million and 7 million Sri Lankan rupees (about 19,200 to 22,400 U.S. dollars) per day. The government has invited investment proposals for the airport and expects to complete the process by 2027.

Authorities have also begun modernising the passenger terminal and upgrading facilities at Jaffna International Airport.

Dissanayake said state institutions should finance development projects through their own resources wherever possible, avoid placing additional burdens on taxpayers and increase their contributions to the state treasury.