Colombo - With almost 1.5 million visitor arrivals and 7.5 million passenger turnovers recorded in 2023, Sri Lanka is on its way to recovery, stability and growth after the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks, the COVID-19 pandemic and the devastating economic crisis in 2022. With cross-border travel expected to rise rapidly in the near future, the preparedness and efficiency of the country’s major Points of Entry (PoE) has become a national priority.

To support this, the Government of Japan, a longstanding development partner of Sri Lanka, has provided a grant of USD 8.4 million through the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to enhance PoE facilities in Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

The grant aims to strengthen capacities at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) and the Colombo Port – vital gateways to Sri Lanka – to be ready for any public health emergencies, such as pandemics and infectious diseases. The first part of the grant handover was held on 10 April 2024 at BIA.

Under this initiative, BIA and Colombo Port are set to receive cutting-edge equipment and facilities, including advanced baggage scanners, full body scanners, automated border control gates equipped with an automated face recognition system, full-page e-passport scanners, and biometric-based access control systems. Additionally, the project will renovate approximately 150 washrooms at BIA with sensor-operated, touchless equipment providing hygienic benefits for passengers, crew and staff.

At the handover event, the Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka, Mizukoshi Hideaki, said, “I am proud to reaffirm Japan’s unwavering commitment to the recovery, growth and development of Sri Lanka. Our support extends particularly to the enhancement of PoE, with a special focus on BIA and Colombo Port. Through this initiative, Japan aims to fortify PoE capabilities, ensuring seamless management of future emergencies, especially during pandemics.”

In addition, the project will provide much-needed medical equipment, renovate the isolation room at BIA in line with international health regulations, and enhance both BIA and Colombo Port waste disposal capabilities.

A four-story office building will also be constructed for the Port Health Service at Colombo Port. Twenty-five Sri Lankan Diplomatic Missions will also receive biometric enrollment workstations, connecting with the Department of Immigration and Emigration to speed up passport issuance for Sri Lankans living overseas. The project

will also provide comprehensive training and staff capacity building to strengthen border health compliance in line with international standards, enabling swift response to public health emergencies.

Also speaking at the launch, Minister of Ports, Shipping and Aviation, Nimal Siripala De Silva, expressed gratitude for the generous financial support provided by the Government of Japan and IOM Sri Lanka saying, “This important initiative which will significantly bolster health preparedness at Sri Lanka’s main airport and the Colombo Port, in line with international health regulations, and in turn garner public confidence for uninterrupted, safe and secure cross-border operations benefitting passengers, crew and staff.”

IOM Chief of Mission in Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Sarat Dash, said: “IOM strongly believes that strengthening the PoE is an investment for the future. The focus of the project extends beyond physical infrastructure and encompasses efforts for the economy, security and digital landscape.” He added that IOM is privileged to be a part of this project of national significance and expressed his gratitude for the support extended by all stakeholders for the project’s successful implementation.

It is anticipated that the project will reduce physical contact points, waiting time and congestion at points of entry and ensure efficient, secure and safe operations at BIA and Colombo Port. It will further improve traveller confidence, driving the potential for a boost in tourism and business travel. This initiative offers an opportunity for mobility to return to pre-pandemic levels and adapt to the post-pandemic reality.

The project is implemented by IOM under the guidance of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Aviation in close coordination with the Airport and Aviation Services Sri Lanka Limited (AASL), Sri Lanka Ports Authority, the Department of Immigration and Emigration, and the Ministries of Health and Foreign Affairs.

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For further information, please contact at IOM Sri Lanka, Parami Fernando, at Email: pafernando@iom.int, Tel: +94 077 122 0053