Colombo suspends flights to Jaffna ahead of CHOGM

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 12 November 2013, 10:47 GMT]
In an apparent move to make foreign diplomats and journalists attending Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting [CHOGM] in Colombo steer away from Jaffna and block them from witnessing the protest of uprooted people of Valikaamam North as well as meeting their representatives, Colombo government has instructed the only private passenger flight operator, FITS Aviation (Pvt) limited, to suspend all flights from Ratmalana in Colombo to Palaali in Jaffna till 18 November. On Tuesday, the Canadian officials visiting North had to travel by road to Jaffna.

When the visiting diplomats and journalists in Colombo were trying to book tickets, they were told by the Fits Aviation, formerly Expo Air, that their flight service to Jaffna has been cancelled due to 'reconstruction' of Palaali runway.

But, the Sri Lankan Air Force (SLAF) flights are operating as usual, using the same run way, informed sources in Jaffna told TamilNet.