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.
This decision follows the successful installation of four e-gates at the arrival terminal, completed with a 1,170 million yen grant from the Government of Japan under a cooperation agreement with the International Organization for Migration.
The grant was provided as part of the regional project, Preparation for Border Infectious Disease Control in Southeast Asian Countries.
Scheduled for installation in 2026, the new e-gates are expected to streamline outbound immigration procedures, enhance accuracy, and reduce wait times at departure counters, according to the government.
The initiative forms part of broader upgrades launched in 2023 to bring BIA in line with international airport standards.
