The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the installation of four new automatic passenger clearance gates at the departure terminal of Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) as part of ongoing efforts to modernize border control and improve passenger processing efficiency.
The decision follows the successful installation of four e-gates at the arrival terminal, completed under a 1,170 million yen grant from the Government of Japan, through a cooperation agreement with the International Organization for Migration.
The grant was part of the regional project, Preparation for Border Infectious Disease Control in Southeast Asian Countries.
With installation set for 2026, the new e-gates are expected to streamline outbound immigration procedures, enhance accuracy, and reduce wait times at departure counters, the government said.
The project is part of broader upgrades launched in 2023 to align BIA with international airport standards. (Newswire)