New operators bid over Rs. 3.8 b for BIA FX operation contracts

Wednesday, 14 January 2026 05:55 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Cabinet of Ministers at their meeting on Monday approved awarding contracts to five new operators for currency exchange in the area designated for customs purposes at the arrivals terminal of the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake for three years which attracted bids totaling over Rs. 3.8 billion.

The awarded counters will allow Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC, Bank of Ceylon, Thomas Cook Lanka Ltd., Sampath Bank PLC, and People’s Bank to offer currency exchange services at the BIA’s arrivals terminal.

Speaking at the weekly post-Cabinet meeting media briefing yesterday, Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said the move was made based on the recommendation of the Standing Procurement Committee after evaluating the bids.

In a competitive bid process involving licensed commercial banks, licensed special banks and Central Bank-approved foreign exchange businesses, the selected institutions will operate their assigned counters as follows: Counter No. 4 awarded to Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC for Rs. 972.77 million + taxes; Counter No. 5 awarded to Bank of Ceylon for Rs. 877.14 million + taxes; Counter No. 6 awarded to Thomas Cook Lanka Ltd., for Rs. 720.79 million; Counter No. 7 awarded to Sampath Bank PLC for Rs. 646.64 million + taxes; and Counter No. 8 awarded to People’s Bank for Rs. 631.31 million + taxes.

“As part of the airport’s development efforts, the need to relocate the currency exchange counters operating at those points emerged during the redevelopment of the arrivals terminal. Due to the failure to reach an agreement on the monthly fee applicable for the placement of currency exchange counters at the newly allocated locations, the then existing contractual agreements have been executed by the Airports and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd,” he explained.

The newly awarded counters are expected to enhance currency exchange services at the country’s main international airport.