Sri Lanka Opens its 3rd International Airport

Palali Airport in Jaffna has been renamed as the Jaffna International Airport making it the third international airport in Sri Lanka and bringing the total number of international airports in the country to five.

The Jaffna International Airport in Palaly which was transformed at a cost of Rs 2.2 billion was declared open on Oct 17th, flagging off flight services between India and Sri Lanka.

The Jaffna International Airport had its maiden Indian flight arrival, moments after it was declared open. The Transport Ministry said that a special flight would arrive from Chennai tomorrow, with a 30-member Indian delegation, marking the commencement of flight services to certain Indian cities, which are expected to begin in November.

“We know that most relatives of the Northern people live in South India. In future, the Northern people can travel to India from the Palaly Airport instead of flying from Katunayake (Bandaranaike International Airport),” Civil Aviation Minister Arjuna Ranatunga said.

The airport which operated only domestic flight services had been upgraded with Sri Lanka pooling in Rs 1.9 billion and India contributing Rs 300 million of the total expenditure.

-Sunday Times