The government has unveiled a 30-year development plan to increase Bandaranaike International Airport's (BIA) annual passenger handling capacity to 24.2 million by 2055, following a review chaired by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

The plan includes expanding the existing terminals, constructing a new terminal building and upgrading depot facilities under the second phase of the BIA Development Project, scheduled for completion in 2027.

The President also directed officials to improve airport transport services, accelerate the digitalisation of airport operations, and review development plans for domestic airports, while noting that Mattala International Airport is currently recording annual losses of around Rs. 4 billion.