At the signing ceremony of the contract for BIA Project

Ms. S.M.Mohammed, Secretary of Ministry of Tourism & Aviation,
Mr. G.A.Chandrasiri, Chairman of the AASL / Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Limited
Mr. HIRANO Kenji, Managing Executive Officer, TAISEI Corporation,
Distinguished officials of the Ministry of Tourism & Aviation, and the AASL,
Fellow media corps.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
 

　I am very pleased to witness the signing of the contract for the Bandaranaike International Airport Project today.
 
   Japan had the honor to cooperate with the Government of Sri Lanka for the development of the BIA from 1981 to 1988 and from 1999 to 2007. In this sense, the BIA is very close to our heart. It is our great pleasure to extend further assistance to expand and improve this main international airport.
 
   Under this project, a new passenger terminal will be built to accommodate about 15 million passengers annually.  I strongly hope that this project will greatly contribute to promoting business travel and tourism, which is one of the major industries of Sri Lanka, and become another symbol of the long-time Japan-Sri Lanka friendship.
 
   I would like to express deep appreciation to the Ministry of Tourism and Aviation under the leading of Hon. Prasanna Ranatunga and the AASL (Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd) under the leading of Chairman Chandrasiri for their cooperation and look forward to working closely with them in order to achieve successful completion of this important project.
 
Thank you very much for your kind attention.