Passengers arriving at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) experienced delays and inconvenience after Sri Lanka’s newly installed automated border control (ABC) e-gates failed to scan passports efficiently. The issue has raised concerns about the readiness of the high-tech system, which was funded by the Japanese government at a cost of US$8.4 million.
The Immigration and Emigration Department said the problem was caused by missing passenger information in the Advanced Passenger Information (API) system, which is essential for the e-gates to automatically identify travellers.
Immigration and Emigration Officers’ Association President Jude Fernando told the Daily Mirror that while the e-gates are designed to automatically scan flight numbers and passenger details, incomplete data transmission from some airlines forced many passengers to be redirected to manual inspection counters.
“The API facility itself is functioning properly, but the issue lies with airlines failing to provide passenger information on time,” Fernando said. He added that officers have been stationed at each e-gate to assist passengers, and that around 20,000 passports have been processed so far despite the technical difficulties.
The e-gates, launched on January 28, 2026, are part of a broader initiative to modernise border control, enhance security, and streamline immigration procedures. Authorities noted that countries such as Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, and Cyprus took at least two years to fully integrate similar systems.
Officials said errors encountered at BIA are being recorded in logbooks at the arrival lounge and addressed individually. While the e-gate system aims to reduce waiting times, minimise human error, and strengthen border security, the early glitches have sparked debate over whether the airport and airlines were sufficiently prepared for its rollout.
