Cabinet Approves 12 Automated Passenger Clearance Gates for BIA

Sri Lanka’s Cabinet of Ministers has approved the procurement and installation of eight additional automated passenger clearance gates at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), bringing the total planned number of gates to 12.

The latest approval adds to four automated passenger clearance gates previously approved for the airport. The move is aimed at streamlining immigration procedures and improving passenger processing at BIA amid rising air passenger traffic.

The automated clearance facility is currently available to Sri Lankan nationals. Plans are in place to expand the system to foreign nationals arriving in and departing from Sri Lanka in line with the planned introduction of the country’s e-passport system in 2027.

The expansion is expected to strengthen immigration clearance capacity at BIA and support more efficient processing as passenger volumes continue to grow, particularly with developments in the tourism and business sectors.