TWO JAPANESE FIRMS BID FOR BIA DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

Two prospective Japanese contractors have submitted bids for the Bandaranaike International Airport’s (BIA) Development Project Phase II Stage 2.

This phase is expected to take an additional 30 months to complete once a contractor is appointed.

Deputy Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation, Janith Ruwan Kodithuwakku, confirmed to local media that under the funding agreement with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Sri Lanka is required to secure the services of a Japanese contractor for this stage of the project.

He revealed that both bids are currently undergoing technical evaluation.

The financial proposals will only be opened after the technical assessment and any necessary clarifications are complete. Kodithuwakku anticipates a final decision on the contractor within approximately two months.

Upon taking over, the chosen contractor will be expected to complete the project within 30 months.

The Deputy Minister had declined to disclose the project's value due to the ongoing evaluation process, stating that details would be released once the assessment concludes.

The Ministry of Transport, Highways, Ports, and Civil Aviation first invited tenders in September 2024 for BIA Development Project Phase II Stage 2, which includes the construction of a second passenger terminal.

The initial contract for BIA Development Project Phase II Stage 2, valued at USD 564 million and involving a second multi-level terminal, was awarded to the Taisei Corporation in 2020.

However, construction ceased in 2022 after JICA froze funding following Sri Lanka's debt default, leading to Taisei Corporation terminating its contract.