Strict security measures at BIA cause hardship and chaos
Security at the Bandaranaike International Airport ( BIA) has been stepped up for passengers departing the country The security plans that were visible at the entrance to the airport was the first checkpoint where vehicles were checked before entering the 'Departure' terminal.
At the checkpoint Air Force personnel with sniffer dogs, inspected baggage and vehicles. After which passengers were dropped off near a hut erected near the 'Departure' terminal.
A tourist, Gilion Campbell (43) who was leaving Sri Lanka with his wife and two sons, said they felt secure, as there are more security personnel deployed at the airport, and did not mind the security measures.
He said the security situation did affect them, as they were unable to travel in the night during their stay, due to the curfew, but at Galle, they felt secure as they were far away from the areas that had bombs going off.
Ruzenka Beskova (50) from the Czech Republic said she had been close to Kandy and was safe from the blasts, but stressed on the need for more security in the country.
Meanwhile, vehicles that dropped off passengers, were diverted out of the terminal, away from the 'Arrivals' area.
The 'Arrivals' terminal too, was
heavily guarded by the Air Force, Airport security and Army Commandos.
Meanwhile, 'Arrivals' were not allowed to be picked up at the terminal by any vehicle, as vehicles were barred from doing so.
This meant that the ' Arrivals' had to push their trolleys of baggage up to the Airport gate and offload their baggage, where Air Force personnel took over the empty trolleys.
There were long lines of traffic on the Katunayake Road with 'Arrivals' vying to secure vehicles at the Airport gate.
One of the affected was Ms Jeewani Dhanapala ( 42) who arrived from India.
“I am sleepless and even my children are tired after the flight, and now they are telling us to carry our luggage out of the airport, without even providing us trolleys,” she said.
She added that it took her over 20 minutes to hire a vehicle that could transport her group and their baggage, with taxi drivers charging Rs 3,000, instead of the Rs 2,000 charged earlier.
Sarath Jayasooriya, an electrician, said that he had difficulty carrying his baggage and even damaged his wrist watch in trying to carry heavy bags.
Mr Jayasooriya said that the Airport authorities should conduct security measures without causing inconvenience to the public.
“They can have measures to transport baggage in vehicles from the entrance of the 'Arrivals' terminal,” he said.
Meanwhile, taxi drivers too said they are facing lesser hires as most foreigners hire airport taxis instead of their vehicles.
M.H.M Riuas (37), a resident of Galle, said he took foreigners to Galle, after he took them to their lodgings. “I am also scared to take foreigners with large baggage, as I too could be suspected of transporting bombs,” he said.
He too, said that his business has dropped, as foreigners hire vehicles parked away from the airport.