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BIA Terminal 2 Development Project in progress to meet post Covid-19 tourism and aviation growth
BIA Terminal 2 Development Project is underway to meet the future demands of the tourism and the aviation industry. The Airport & Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Private) Limited – (AASL) began building the BIA terminal 2 in December 2020 and construction activities are underway despite the challenges of COVID-19 global pandemic.
Construction work on the new terminal 2 commenced on December 15, 2020 and it is expected to complete the project on December 14, 2023. Project Management Unit (PMU), AASL together with the JV Japan Airport Consultants (JAC)/Nippon Koei Co., Ltd. – (JAC/NK), the consultants of the project and TAISEI Corporation, Japan, the contractor, are working towards the achievement of the objectives of the project.
“Preliminary works and soil investigations for pile foundations have been completed. Clearing the areas for main Terminal building by root balling existing trees and replanting, hoarding for the construction area, boring and concreting of pile foundations for Main Terminal Building & viaduct (overhead entry and exit to Main Terminal Building) etc. are in progress, said Major General (Rtd.) G. A. Chandrasiri, Chairman, AASL.
Airside construction work is yet to start. Since the development activities are taking place in an operational airport, it requires special prior approvals by Aviation Authorities with operational impact, safety and security studies with regard to the effect of construction activities on airport operations carried out by the contractor and the project consultant”, he further said.
Under the Package B, construction work commenced on April 25, 2017 and it was expected to be completed on February 29, 2020. However, work was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation during the latter part of its completion.
The contractor has been able to complete 94% of the work and the remaining Polymer Modified Asphalt overlaying will be completed within the next months. Once completed, 23 new aircraft parking bases will be added to the new terminal.
Aruna Warushahennadige, Director Aviation Projects/Director AASL, said that every construction activity such as piling work is carried out as per the guidelines given with the approval of the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) for the implementation of the project and a daily environmental monitoring schedule is done by a National Research Organization (NBRO) team. Air quality, water quality, noise, vibration and dust etc. are monitored in all areas of the construction sites at regular intervals during the monitoring.
“BIA Terminal 2 is designed to get the LEED accreditation (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and the present design has all the features to consider for the silver status going beyond expectation as it was originally expected to receive Bronze certification. With the construction process and usage of specified material for the construction combined with the overall design, we expect to get the Gold certification under LEED accreditation for the Terminal 2 with the completion of the Project. The project is being constructed preserving 30% energy and 40% water consumption”, he noted.
Developing Colombo as a destination for aviation and construction of the Terminal 2 of Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) had been a dire need for the country’s socio-economic development. Air transportation today determines a country’s economic power and the successful completion of these infrastructure projects automatically elevates the country’s economic prosperity, by adding to its foreign exchange earnings, GDP, creating new jobs, creating new industries, and expanding aviation, and travel-related industries.
Airports play a significant role in branding nations and they act as catalysts for socio-economic prosperity. The commencement of BIA Terminal 2 will be a giant step towards becoming an aviation hub in the region. Sri Lanka will fly to new heights of the globe.
(AASL Press Release)
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
