Most other countries are leasing assets to such countries. Can't be any worse than paying off a $200m loan without any revenue to offset it. That said your probably right in that our guys will allow a lease to go ahead with detrimental terms.

Well when I read the local papers it's nothing but Fraud and Corruption. Under the previous government almost $20 Billion was transferred out of the country (stolen from the people of Sri Lanka). To the best of my knowledge not a single $ has been recovered - just a lot of talk!

Seems to me there are other options - $20 Billion will pay off a lot of these loans.

Ratmalana Airport to launch 12 yr master plan



What a load of crap

...it would not generate adequate ROI and since it would mean attempting to compete with the country’s main international airport at Katunayaka.

looks like the unions are running the business case

Upgrading Plan for Terminal – 01 (Beautification Project for Terminal 1 BIA)

1. Refurbishment and Expansion of Departure & Arrival Walkways
New air conditioned walkways for comfort of the passengers.
Daylight usage from roof to reduced electricity lighting cost. This will remove the visually narrow effect of the corridor.
More shopping to departing passengers.
Improved visual experience.

2. Expansion of Departure Public Concourse and Garden Shops
More shops and open garden space for passengers and visitors. This will integrate the concept if Sri Lankan vernacular architecture.
Public washrooms.
Additional area for airline office.
Meeters and Greeters can easily move around in the verandah.

3. Expansion of Check-In Area – Departure (Completed)
More queuing area for the passengers.

4. Check- In Area Expansion with Baggage handling system

5. Emigration Area Re-Location / Development and Expansion of Duty free Area
Emigration desk will be taken one level up with connection of 2 escalators and a lift.
Increased number of Emigration counters (16 to 23)
More space for the passengers queue.
Increased number of duty free shops (10 Nos.)
A large Emigration Hall

6. Modifications to Immigration Area and Electronic Mall
A large Immigration hall.
Increased number of Immigration counters.(27 to 43) and more queuing space.
Large space for the passengers queue.
New Electronics mall with increased number of shops.
Hassle free passenger movement.

7. Refurbishment of Araliya Lounge
Enhance the Passenger capacity.
New modern look
Introduction of new facilities such as sleeping areas, children play areas, etc.

8. Refurbishment of Wash Rooms
Enhance the Passenger capacity.
New modern look

9. Refurbishment of Silk Route Lounges and Executive Lounge.
Enhance the Passenger capacity.
New modern look
Introduction of new facilities such as buffet area, more wash rooms etc.

10. Proposed Arrival & Departure Passenger Segregation.
This will separate Arrival and Departure Passengers with the introduction of new Level.
Additional space for gate lounges.
Centralized security checking.
More shops to Gate areas will increase the income.
More facilities to passengers.

A much needed good news. Hope for the Best

Source: http://www.airport.lk/aasl/developme...Terminal01.php

Proposals and different designs everyday but when are they going to lay the first brick?
I’m really tired of hearing BIA expansion projects ;(

Is this true did they construct a rapid exit in CMB

US$12 mln interim terminal at BIA in 18 months

By Sunimalee Dias
View(s): 892

Sri Lanka is set to establish an interim departure terminal at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) at a cost of approximately US$12 million in line with proposed targeted tourist arrival figures following promotions campaigns set to take off early next year.

An interim terminal costing around $10-12 million will be established at the BIA since the second phase of the expansion at the airport would be completed only by end 2021, Airport and Aviation Services Ltd Executive Director Johanne Jayaratne told the Business Times on Wednesday.

He noted that the interim terminal solution would be for departures only to process around two million departing passengers as this is where the airport experienced most congestion.

The interim terminal would be located next to the existing terminal and would be completed within a period of 18 months or sooner, Mr. Jayaratne said.

Currently airport authorities are working on the specifications of the proposed interim terminal and following which they would float a tender by the end of the year or make a Request for Proposal (RFP).

The Government has decided to increase capacity to the existing terminal envisaging the increase in tourist traffic in the wake of the global tourism promotion campaign set to be launched by the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB). The bureau’s campaign early next year is expected to generate an influx of tourists.

Sri Lanka is targeting four million visitors by 2020 and in line with this, new infrastructure is in place to ensure authorities would be proactive to future challenges, Mr. Jayaratne said.

At present the existing BIA terminal has a capacity of six million passengers but it was noted that they had processed 9.4 million in 2016.

Projections are that the capacity at the BIA is likely to increase this year to about 10.2 million, Mr. Jayaratne said adding that the interim terminal would be a basic one with no frills.

The second stage of the proposed expansion of the BIA with a second terminal is expected to be completed in 2021 at a cost of $470 million and is currently underway with work on apron development having commenced about two months back. The terminal contract itself is currently being negotiated with the contractor, Mr. Jayaratne said.
http://www.sundaytimes.lk/171105/bus...hs-266827.html

"proposed targeted tourist arrival figures following promotions campaigns set to take off early next year."

any idea what is this???

Work in progress. Please check: http://www.airport.lk/aasl/developme...Terminal01.php

BIA Departure area - captured on 13.11.2017

AirAsia offers to build special terminal at BIA for budget carriers

AirAsia has offered to build a special terminal at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) for low-cost carriers under a five-year investment of US$ 70-100 million. The Malaysian carrier’s proposal to set up a budget carrier based out of BIA was put forward more than one year ago.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Management (CCEM) has now approved the bid and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Tourism Minister John Amaratunga have submitted a joint Cabinet paper. It is scheduled to be taken up when the Cabinet next convenes.

AirAsia’s plans were first discussed with Public Enterprise Development Minister Kabir Hashim who last week claimed he was bypassed. A visiting team met him in March and July 2017 and on one occasion made a presentation to a technical committee appointed by his Ministry. A similar summary was given to the CCEM on November 8.

The Prime Minister’s office was approached directly as the process was stagnating, reliable sources said. AirAsia is looking at a possible public-private partnership with up to US$ 100 million in foreign direct investment. In its presentation, the company maintained that a budget-carrier would catalyse the tourism industry. Sri Lanka with its eight UNESCO heritage sites received just 2.1 million tourist arrivals last year in comparison to 26 million visitors to Malaysia over the same period, though that country has only four UNESCO heritage sites.

The long process to obtain an air operator’s certificate will begin once the Sri Lankan Government grants in-principle approval for the project. AirAsia envisages the deployment of 24 aircraft — including in Jaffna and Hambantota — over a five-year period, officials who attended the presentation said. Operations would be based primarily out of Colombo in the first three years.

An increase in tourist arrivals during that period would make development of the Palaly airport in the North feasible, the presentation said. The company expressed confidence that the Sri Lankan diaspora will support that initiative because of their links to the Jaffna peninsula. Hambantota could be used to promote travel to tourist destinations in the East.

AirAsia did a detailed study before approaching the Sri Lankan Government, official sources in Colombo said. Its team pointed out that, according to industry research, aviation had a multiplier effect of 13 times. Therefore, their investment is expected to bring steep returns to the country in terms of airport charges, tourist spending and airport tax. And it is estimated that Sri Lanka’s anticipated tourist arrivals for 2022 will rise from 5.1 million to 9.6 million through the operation of a low-cost carrier.

The company will start looking for a local joint venture partner for the PPP after in-principle approval is granted. A dedicated terminal for budget carriers, meanwhile, has been projected as essential. Such terminals designed and built to keep costs low, reduce airport tax and charges and enable quick turnaround times. AirAsia has offered its in-house experts to design and build the facility. The airline has made it clear that it would be for the use of all budget carriers servicing Sri Lanka.

Boss of Malaysia's AirAsia Tony Fernandes tweeted praise for Sri Lanka following reports that the budget carrier was in talks to set up a joint venture airline and help build a budget terminal in the island.

Minister Nimal Siripala said during budget debate yesterday that for CMB airport development project JICA had called tenders among Japanese companies and their bids were 45% higher than engineers estimate. Because of that new passenger terminal constructions has got delayed. Discussions are underway to solve the issues. As an interim solution they're building new small scale terminal

H'tota Port, Mattala Airport -- Chinese, Indian funds will boost foreign reserves: PM

The funds received from China Merchant Company in connection with the Hambantota Port Project and those received from the Indian company in connection with the Mattala Airport will be credited to a special account thus boosting the country's foreign reserves, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday.

Passenger terminal facilitating 15 million passengers per year to be built in Colombo Airport

The Sri Lankan government has focused on improving the passenger handling capacity of its international airport in Colombo significantly.

The passenger handling capacity of the current terminal is 6 million passengers a year. However in 2016 the airport handled 9.5 million passengers and the number is rising annually.

Steps have already been taken to improve passenger capacity to 15 million per year by the year 2022.

However, in order to ease the passenger congestion while the project is underway, as an interim measure the Transport & civil Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva has proposed building a temporary pre-stressed passenger terminal by the end of 2018.

During busy hours a terminal that can handle departures of 400 passengers per hour is needed.

Accordingly Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva's proposal to build a temporary pre-stressed passenger terminal to facilitate 400 passengers per hour at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.