Adding a new chapter to the civil aviation sector,  The Jaffna International Airport, Sri Lanka’s third international airport was declared open by President Maithripala Sirisena today (17) and welcomed the first Alliance Air flight which arrived from Chennai with invitees from the aviation industry in India.

Alliance Air has confirmed three flights weekly from Indian destinations including Chennai once the airport is declared open.

The event was attended by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation Arjuna Ranatunga, High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka Taranjit Singh Sandhu and a number of other dignitaries.

The Government last week announced the opening of Batticaloa, Ratmalana Airports for operation of regional commercial flights and along with the opening of Jaffna International Airport, the total number of international airports in the country will increase to five.