BIA and Aviation staff to be given large discounts from duty-free shops

Staff at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) and those of the Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd. will be able to purchase duty-free goods at discount prices, a senior aviation official stated. 

The decision to allow airport employees and those from Aviation Services to purchase goods from duty-free shops comes as certain goods are in danger of going to waste due to them approaching their expiration dates. 

According to the official, many shops have not been able to make any sales over the past few months owing to airports being closed on account of COVID-19. Certain goods, particularly chocolates, discuits, perfume and beer, which have been sitting on store shelves for three to four months, are in danger of going to waste as the products are approaching their expiration dates, according to the official. 

As such, a decision was taken to taken to allow the duty-free shops to sell their products to these employees at discounts of 50% or more to ensure that the products do not go to waste, the official added. 

Meanwhile, authorities are also allowing over 10, 000 Sri Lankans who were flown into the country on special flights during the pandemic to purchase duty-free goods. 

"These returnees went straight into quarantine centres and so had no opportunity for duty-free shopping. We have now taken a decision to allow those who have completed their quarantine to purchase duty-free goods from the shops at the BIA," the officlal revealed. 

Passengers will need to come to the BIA and show the certificate issued by the Government cerfying that they have completed their quarantine period to be eligible to engage in duty-free shopping, the official added.