• Moots military deployment to crackdown on extortionist porters, officials, taxi drivers, brokers, and increased fines, updated security system 

Minister of Ports, Shipping and Aviation, Attorney Nimal Siripala de Silva said on Tuesday (28) that the staff of the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake do not have the courtesy and friendliness that can be seen in many other international airports in the region.

Speaking at a special discussion held with senior officials of the BIA, he also said that plenty of complaints have been received that baggage handlers, taxi drivers and brokers were engaged in various irregularities at the Airport premises, thus causing various inconveniences to passengers.

“These complaints reveal that the BIA does not have the courtesy that exists in many other regional international airports. Tourists have complained that not only porters and other officials in the internal staff but also other outsiders like taxi drivers and brokers are threatening them, always asking for money. We have to take action to remove them from the Airport premises somehow by deploying security personnel if it is needed,” the Minister said. He also noted that they are planning to increase the fine from Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 100,000 for such misconduct and to advance the Airport’s security system.

“We have to take necessary action against these kinds of misconducts as they directly affect the reputation of the entire aviation sector. At a time when the tourism sector is coming back to normalcy, we have a huge responsibility on our hands to support it. I must ask all the staff members, porters, baggage handlers, and taxi drivers to behave in a decent manner when you’re dealing with everyone, not only with foreigners but also with local passengers,” he said.

Several officials of the Ports, Shipping and Aviation Ministry, the Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Limited (AASL) and the Department of Immigration and Emigration attended the discussion.

When The Daily Morning contacted the Airport Duty Manager to inquire about the measures that are to be taken to resolve the problem, he said that he is not permitted to give information to the media.

Several attempts made by The Daily Morning to contact the Chairman of the AASL, retired Major General G.A. Chandrasiri on this matter proved futile.