Suspect armed with 9 mm pistol at BIA

BY Premalal Wijeratne-2015-12-17

Commotion ensued at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) yesterday after a rumour started circulating that a man armed with a 9 millimetre pistol had been loitering near the VIP lounge, soon after President Maithripala Sirisena arrived in the country at the conclusion of his Rome visit, BIA sources said.

Following the incident, both Customs and BIA security had conducted a search operation, and both inbound and outbound travel had been affected from 12 p.m. to
2 p.m.
Media Manager of SriLankan Airlines, Deepal Perera, stated that five flights including those to London, Lahore, Singapore and Shanghai had been delayed.
When contacted, Director General of Customs Chulananda Perera stated that due to a security issue at the BIA the aforementioned flights had been delayed.

BIA sources further said the sudden strike by Customs officials against being subjected to strict screening by BIA security officials, especially their food and beverage, had led to the flights being delayed.
Customs sources said the screening of food by X-ray machines poses a health hazard.
It was also reported that Customs and BIA officials were involved in discussions to diffuse the situation till late in the evening.
When contacted, Police Media Spokesman, SSP Ruwan Gunasekera said that they have not received any breach of security or any suspect being armed with a pistol upon the President leaving the BIA after his arrival from Rome yesterday.