The Ministry of Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs has announced a significant security upgrade at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), Katunayake, through the full-scale installation of facial recognition cameras at all immigration counters.
Currently, only eight counters are equipped with facial recognition systems, but under the new plan, all 30 immigration and emigration counters will be outfitted with this advanced technology, in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Police.
Minister Ananda Wijepala stated that the aim is to bolster national security by enabling authorities to accurately identify organized criminals, individuals with arrest warrants, and suspects involved in serious crimes as they enter or exit the country.
The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) will be responsible for round-the-clock monitoring of the system to ensure swift identification and response.
Until the full implementation is completed, immigration officers have been instructed to prioritize the use of the existing facial recognition-equipped counters.
The Minister also noted that this development is part of a broader strategy to tighten airport security and prevent the unlawful travel of individuals linked to criminal activities.
