A new set of high-tech equipment aimed at strengthening Sri Lanka’s border health preparedness and aviation security was officially handed over to Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA).
The donation, provided through funding from the Government of Japan and implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), marks a significant milestone in ongoing efforts to modernize infrastructure at key points of entry.
The handover event, held at the Silk Route Lounge, was attended by senior officials from the Government of Sri Lanka, the Embassy of Japan, Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Limited (AASL), and IOM’s regional and national leadership. It formed part of a broader regional project titled “Strengthening Capacity of Border Control for Responding to Infectious Diseases in Southwest Asia,” which is supported by a USD 8.4 million grant from the Japanese government.
This marks the third round of equipment donations under the initiative and includes: 13 baggage and cargo scanners, including the introduction of advanced C2 scanners for the first time in Sri Lanka;
A fully equipped isolation room constructed within BIA to support emergency health response;
A compact refuse collection truck and 50 Euro carts to upgrade the airport’s waste management system.
Designed to make the airport more resilient in the face of future public health emergencies, the equipment is expected to support faster, contactless passenger screening while improving medical and sanitation infrastructure.
As part of the programme, guests were taken on a walkthrough to view the new installations, accompanied by technical demonstrations and briefings from IOM and airport staff. The event also coincided with the official visit of IOM’s Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, underlining the organization’s continued partnership with Sri Lankan authorities in aligning mobility systems with international health and security standards.
Additional donations under this project are scheduled for later this year, with handovers planned for BIA, Colombo Port, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A formal closure event for the project will take place before the end of 2025.