Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Limited (AASL) announced today, September 24, 2026, that passenger throughput at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake has exceeded 4.74 million travelers during the first eight months of 2026, reflecting sustained revival in national aviation and international tourism.

To manage surging passenger volumes and eliminate checkpoint bottlenecks, AASL, in collaboration with the Department of Immigration and Emigration, has begun phased deployment of automated electronic biometric gates (e-gates) at both departure and arrival terminals. Civil aviation authorities noted that the modernization package includes enhanced baggage scanning lanes, expanded transit lounge capacity, and dedicated transit corridors to handle over 30,000 aircraft movements recorded this year.