Naval and Aviation Services Minister Nimal Sirirpala de Silva yesterday expressed his displeasure as contractors continue to delay the completion of the new Passenger Terminal building at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA).
“Since the construction companies have been selected by the Japanese Government, a complaint will be sent to the Japanese Government in this regard,” he said.
“Even though the contract for the construction of the new Passenger Terminal building was signed about eight years ago, there is not much progress in the construction work so far,” the Minister said.
He was speaking during an inspection tour of the construction site at the BIA yesterday.
It has been planned to construct a new Passenger Terminal and aircraft operating system at the BIA under this project.
The estimated cost of this project is Rs. 113 billion and JICA has provided financial assistance for the construction.
Construction work on the project began in 2019 and it should have been in the final phase this year, according to the agreement. However, the construction work had not been completed to a satisfactory level so far, he said.
Even though the second terminal was planned to be built in keeping with the regulations for aviation safety, security, efficiency and regularity and environmental protection adopted by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), it was later revealed that its security system is currently being prepared to be constructed in violation of ICAO standards, contrary to the original plan.
The Minister said that it is the duty of the construction companies to complete the construction work on schedule despite the mistakes and delays of the construction company and the fuel crisis.
The Minister said that the work on this project should be completed on time and added that the benefit of such development projects should be given to the country and the people.