Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena declares Jaffna International Airport open

Palaly: The Jaffna International Airport was declared open by President Maithripala Sirisena at Palaly in Sri Lanka. Marking the inauguration of Jaffna International Airport, Alliance Air (the subsidiary of Air India) launched a flight to the airport with invitees from the aviation industry on Thursday.  Jaffna will be the airline’s 55th and first international addition to the list. The runway length has been extended from 950 to 1,400 metres to facilitate ATR 72 aircraft carrying 70 passengers. Minister Arjuna Ranatunga said the airport built with Indian assistance marks an important development for the region as well as whole of Sri Lanka. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, minister of Transport and Civil Aviation Arjuna Ranatunga, high commissioner of India to Sri Lanka Taranjit Singh Sandhu, Northern Province Governor Suren Raghavan along with other dignitaries graced the inaugural event.

The Sri Lankan government is also planning to develop Batticalao Airport in eastern province to improve connectivity.