More officials to man BIA counters

Sarath MALALASEKERA

Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa on a Cabinet approval had deployed 131 officials to manage the Immigration and Emigration counters at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) with effect from yesterday, said Immigration and Emigration Department Controller General Chulananda Perera.

There had been a shortage of officials to control the large number of tourist arrivals at the BIA during the last few weeks, the Controller said.

All the Immigration and Emigration Department Counters at the BIA have opened from yesterday for the benefit of tourists visiting Sri Lanka, he said.

Tourists visiting and leaving the country will not have to wait for long periods at the BIA. Immigration and Emigration officials will attend to them without any delay in the future, the Controller said.