Sri Lankan government to call for fresh tenders for modernisation of Bandaranaike International Airport
Sri Lanka’s Aviation Services Minister Prasanna Ranatunga has reportedly directed officials to call for fresh tenders to complete the third phase of the modernisation programme of the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake within the next six months.
The Minister has issued this directive following an inspection of the airport recently.
He has said that the expansion work of the BIA has not been concluded, despite the contract had been awarded in 2017 with a nine month deadline.
“During my visit to the airport last week, I did a thorough inspection of the condition of the airport and found out that the construction work of the third phase of the expansion was done below standard, and had only completed 45% of the work. We will remove this contractor and call for new tenders to complete at least the interior projects within the next six months,” Ranatunga has told the Daily FT.
Ranatunga, who is also the Tourism, Industrial Export and Investment Promotion Minister of Sri Lanka has said they have found out that the elevators at the building were not up to standard, and as an impairment they have decided to charge a sum of Rs. 37 million from the company.
“I have ordered the authorities to blacklist the construction company belonging to the former UNP Minister for delaying the work,” the Minister has added.
OSL take:
The economic and development policies of the new government of Sri Lanka is expected to further expand business/investment opportunities in the country. As stated by the country’s aviation minister, the calling for new tenders for the modernisation of Sri Lanka’s Bandaranaike International Airport has opened a new business opportunity for foreign businesses. Similar opportunities are on the increase in other sectors as well.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/09122019/Z_1 |