Chennai-Jaffna flights restart

After a gap of 40 years, an Alliance Air flight from Chennai touched down at the Jaffna international airport to mark the commencement of operations at the airport. The airport was redeveloped at Rs 1,950 million (Sri Lankan rupee) of which India funded Rs 300 million (Sri Lankan rupee). The airport was closed down following the LTTE-led civil war in the island nation. At the inauguration of the airport, Sri Lankan PM Ranil Wickremesinghe said that India-Sri Lanka collaboration has potential for economic development of the Jaffna region. Northern province governor Suren Raghavan said the development of Jaffna airport was a step to improve an area that was in tatters once. Hinting about the significance of Alliance Air flight landing at the airport, he said, “This is not a mere opening of an airport but to rebuild relations with international destinations. Now, it is easy to go to Chennai than to go to Colombo and then fly to Chennai.”