The Airport and Aviation Services Sri Lanka (Pvt) Ltd. (AASL) has defended its decision to charge a levy of Rs. 700 on PickMe and Uber rides operating from the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) by contending that the revenue generated will be utilised for the modernisation of airport infrastructure.

In June 2023, Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Aviation Nimal Siripala de Silva announced in Parliament that permission had been granted to Uber and PickMe to operate at the BIA for a fee, following a series of reports of harassment and overcharging by the taxi mafia at the BIA. 

However, further criticism has arisen from certain sections of the public regarding the Rs. 700 fee imposed on these ride-hailing services, which has been described as excessive.

Speaking to The Sunday Morning Business, AASL Chairman Major General (Retd) G.A. Chandrasiri defended the decision to charge a levy from the two smartphone app-based ride-hailing services, contending that the AASL was entitled to charge such a fee in return for permitting these companies to enter and operate at the BIA.

“We have entered into an agreement with Uber and PickMe, under which we will charge this levy in return for permitting them to use and operate from the BIA,” he stated. 

He further stated that the revenue generated would be utilised to fund the ongoing infrastructure development of the BIA.

“We are currently engaged in the commercial development of the BIA and we will use this money for that. We are going to construct a new car park at the departure terminal. All the revenue generated will be used for such infrastructure projects and for the beautification of the airport.”

Charging an airport levy from ride-hailing services such as Uber is not a new phenomenon and is a practice followed at most international airports worldwide. For example, according to Reuters, passengers commuting to or from the Newark Liberty, LaGuardia, and John F. Kennedy Airports are charged $ 1.75 for taxis and $ 2.5 for Uber and Lyft.