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| Friday, 9 January 2004 |
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Civil Aviation Dept okays SriLankan to begin sea plane operations by Chamitha Kuruppu The Civil Aviation Department of Sri Lanka has given the green light to SriLankan Airlines to commence sea plane operations to Koggala, Bentota Lake and Victoria reservoir following successful test landings carried out last week. Test landings were fully successful, we have technically cleared them SriLankan Airlines) for operations, Director General Civil Aviation H.M.C. Nimalsiri told the Daily News yesterday. He said that the airline is permitted to commence operations immediately. " "But we learn it will take a little time because SriLankan is preparing for a commercial program before publishing the schedule," Nimalsiri said. However, technical studies under way in collaboration with environmental authorities on the inland water bodies for sea plane operations are yet to be completed. Meanwhile, the aviation authority is yet to approve operations to Kelani Lake and two other destinations-Sigiriya and Hingurakgoda where SriLankan airline is carrying out further studies. Nimalsiri stressed that more inland destinations will be added to the list once SriLankan commences operations. "This transportation will become popular and successful". SriLankan Airline initially said that two CESSNA amphibian planes will facilitate tourist traffic to Trincomalee, Kandalama, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and Bentota with a one way ticket priced at around US $ 100. The nine-seater planes will cut down travel to a maximum 20 to 30 minutes compared to the normal road travel time, ranging from anything between three to eight hours to reach these areas. Meanwhile, environmentalists are protesting against sea plane operations as it will have repercussions on the ecological balance. SriLankan Airline officials were not available for comment. |
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