The Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) is to undergo a major redesign of its arrivals lobby to better accommodate the growing number of tourists visiting Sri Lanka. As tourist traffic steadily increases, these upgrades are designed to reduce congestion and create a more welcoming first impression for visitors.
This expansion promises to create a more spacious environment while additional ATM machines will be installed to ease crowding and reduce waiting times, according to media reports. A centralised travel information counter will also be introduced to assist tourists and ensure a seamless experience for inbound travellers.
The initiative comes in response to a surge in tourist arrivals with the daily average reaching 8,150 in January – that’s a healthy 23 percent increase from the previous year.
These improvements will serve as a temporary solution until completion of Terminal 2 in March 2028, which will increase the airport’s capacity.
BIA remains Sri Lanka’s primary international gateway, hosting over 30 airlines.
With these changes, Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) says it aims to increase both capacity and efficiency, ensure smoother arrivals and strengthen BIA’s standing as a competitive regional hub.