2026-03-04 / Adjournment: Questions at Adjournment 2026-03-04
## Summary
Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation Anura Karunathilaka responded to questions from Hon. Champika Hettiarachchi regarding air passenger capacity and airport development. He reported that total air passenger handling in January 2026 reached 1,045,994, with projected figures of 11.68 million for 2027 and 12.6 million for 2028. Given that these projections exceed current capacity ahead of the planned 2029 completion of a second passenger terminal at Bandaranaike International Airport, the Ministry is undertaking interim expansions to the existing first terminal, including additional counters and increased airline access. The Minister also outlined plans for domestic airport development, including a private domestic terminal already in operation, a feasibility study for a dedicated domestic terminal, and a joint World Bank study on nationwide domestic air services expected to report by end of 2027.
Hon. Presiding Member, the answers to the questions asked by Hon. Champika Hettiarachchi are as follows:
1. Total air passenger handling in January 2026 is 1,045,994.
2. For 2027, 11.68 million; for 2028, 12.6 million.
3. Yes.
4. As for the timeline, we expect to construct the second passenger terminal at Bandaranaike International Airport, Katunayake, over the coming years, and we aim to complete it by 2029. The necessary procurement work has commenced and is now in the second stage. However, as I stated earlier, given the projected volumes in 2027 and 2028, we cannot wait until 2029. Therefore, we are planning to further expand the operations of the first passenger terminal.
We have already undertaken temporary construction and set up the necessary counters. As I mentioned earlier, by expanding the space in the first passenger terminal we will be able to provide a larger number of counters, give more opportunities to several airlines, and thereby operate an increased number of flights in parallel.
5. Concurrently, we have plans to develop domestic airports. With the increase in tourist arrivals, we expect growth in domestic air services. To develop the required domestic airport facilities, the Ministry has already held several preliminary discussions. In particular, there is already a terminal operated by a private entity at Bandaranaike International Airport for domestic travel. In addition, a preliminary feasibility study is under way to establish an additional facility — a terminal dedicated to domestic air services. We are also conducting, together with the World Bank, a feasibility study on domestic air services operating across the entire country. We expect to receive that report by the end of next year. Based on its recommendations and findings, we intend to further develop domestic air travel and the necessary infrastructure. We have also engaged with the private local entities that currently operate domestic air services, identified their issues, and are taking steps to provide structured solutions to achieve the desired growth.
Thank you.