Sri Lanka’s aviation sector flies through economic turbulence

Sri Lanka’s coronavirus-wrecked aviation sector is flying through its biggest economic turbulence in modern history with the country’s five international airports being almost at a standstill.

“It is virtually a struggle for survival now before the resumption of normal operations at Katunayake (BIA) and Mattala International airports,” an official source said.

The shutdown in the country has had a significant adverse impact on passenger traffic at the BIA during the first and second quarters in 2020 due to reduced flight numbers caused by the suspension of air services by regulatory authorities in Sri Lanka and around the world.

Estimated profit before tax of Airport & Aviation Services Ltd (AASL), the state company managing airports, up to April 30, 2020 was Rs. 1,415 million which is a 76 per cent reduction compared with a profit of Rs. 5,940 million recorded in the same period of 2019, Finance Ministry data showed.

A package of promotional and relief measures included a waive-off of embarkation levy percentage while new land and parking charges have been introduced by the Treasury.

Measures have been taken to divest 200 acres that belong to AASL to establish an airbase at Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport ( MRIA) and operate an International pilot training academy at Colombo International Airport and MRIA.

New mitigation measures are being introduced in all five international airports specially at Katunayake and Mattala International airports with respect to cleanliness, hygiene and social distancing as well as COVID-19 screening procedures.

With support from the Japanese Government, eight health inspection and interview counters have been opened at the BIA, AASL Chairman Major General (Retired) G.A. Chandrasiri said.

50 full-duplex counter communication systems for immigration counters, four temperature screening thermal sensor camera systems, and 15 hand-held medical infra red thermometers have already been installed.

Baggage screening facilities at the BIA have been strengthened with the installation of state-of-theart X-Ray machines procured at a cost of US$ 331,220 (Rs. 61 million).