Govt. rolls out joint initiative to streamline operations at BIA
Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga suggests special
immigration for tourists, investors, businessmen and expatriate workers
Development Coordination and Monitoring Minister Namal
Rajapaksa says Govt. to make COVID vaccination card mandatory for all
activities
State Minister Priyankara Jayaratne moots special program
for migrant workers
SriLankan Airlines Chairman asserts difficulties are due to
new normalisation procedure amidst COVID
An integrated joint program is to be formulated to
streamline operations and minimise inconvenience caused to passengers at the
Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake.
Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga yesterday instructed
officials to immediately implement these joint programs between the Airport and
Aviation Services (Lanka) Ltd., the Department of Immigration and Emigration,
Sri Lanka Customs, SriLankan Airlines, and the Health and Tourism Ministries.
He made these remarks at a special meeting to discuss the
way forward post-COVID. Development Coordination and Monitoring Minister Namal
Rajapaksa, Aviation State Minister D.V. Chanaka, Foreign Employment State
Minister Priyankara Jayaratne, and the Heads of Immigration, Customs, Health
and Tourism also participated.
Ranatunga said that air traffic congestion could be minimised by coordinating all aspects of the airport and suggested the setting up of a joint management committee, headed by the AASL Chairman, comprising of representatives of all relevant institutions to resolve these issues.
Delays at the Immigration and Emigration counters at the
BIA, particularly during peak hours, were discussed. The Tourism Minister
suggested that special immigration counters be introduced for tourists,
investors, businessmen and expatriate workers. To this, the Controller of
Immigration and Emigration agreed to increase the number of relevant officers
during rush hours at the airport.
It was pointed out that the number of immigration windows at
the Arrivals Terminal had been increased from 25 to 31, whilst the number of
emigration windows had been increased from 18 to 23, along with the
introduction of new technology.
Minister Rajapaksa stressed that the Government was
currently considering making the COVID vaccination card mandatory for all
activities in future. He said that the relevant arrangements had been made and
that the Attorney General had given an explanation in this regard to health
authorities to take a policy decision.
State Minister Jayaratne stressed the need to set up a
special program at the airport for those leaving for and returning from foreign
employment. He said this should be implemented without any hindrance. AASL
officials said they could make room for the suggestion.
During the lengthy discussion with regard to delays in daily
operations at the BIA, SriLankan Airlines Chairman Ashok Pathirage stressed
that these difficulties had arisen due to the new normalisation procedure
amidst COVID and insisted these issues will be resolved expeditiously.
On the instructions of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, steps
were taken last week to expedite the collection of health declarations at the
BIA and its progress was also reviewed during the meeting. Health and airport
officials said they had taken steps to remove the delays. It was emphasised
that the required number of officers had been deployed for this purpose.
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