President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has instructed officials to expedite projects aimed at increasing passenger capacity and improving facilities at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA).

President Dissanayake also stressed the need to develop other domestic airports across the country alongside the Katunayake Airport to meet future demand.

He made these remarks during a discussion on the 2027 Budget proposals relating to the Ministry of Ports and Civil Aviation, held at the Presidential Secretariat today (27), according to the President’s Media Division (PMD).

During the meeting, officials reviewed the progress of ongoing airport development projects and discussed plans to expand infrastructure, including road networks, in line with the development of Katunayake Airport.

Special attention was also given to projects aimed at increasing passenger-handling capacity at Katunayake and other airports across the country, while upgrading facilities to improve convenience for air travellers.

The President emphasised the importance of accelerating these projects to ensure that airport infrastructure can meet future requirements, the PMD noted.

The meeting was attended by Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation and Minister of Energy Anura Karunathilaka, Minister of Labour and Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando, Deputy Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation Janith Ruwan Kodituwakku, and senior government officials representing the relevant ministries and institutions.

Other attendees included the President’s Chief of Staff, Prabath Chandrakeerthi, ministry secretaries, Treasury officials and the Director General of the Department of National Budget.