Sri Lanka, Korea hold bilateral air service consultations:

Direct flights from Korea in March

Sri Lanka and Korea concluded a successful round of air services consultation in expanding bilateral air transport arrangements between the two countries in Seoul, Korea on February 19 and 20.

During the consultations, the Sri Lankan side agreed to grant traffic rights for Korean Air to operate flights to Maldives via Colombo whereas the Korean side agreed to grant traffic rights for SriLankan Airlines to operate to Seoul from Colombo via Hong Kong.

Korean Air will commence operating direct flights from Seoul to Colombo three times a week from March 9 and will operate flights to Maldives from Colombo and will return to Seoul from Male via Colombo, re-establishing direct air links between Sri Lanka and Korea after more than 25 years.

The expansion of aviation arrangements will facilitate the movement of people and goods and will provide new business opportunities for the aviation industries of both countries. This arrangement would enable Sri Lankan and Korean companies to expand their business and investments while boosting Korean tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka.

The Sri Lankan delegation also invited designated carries of Korea to commence flights to Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport where special incentive and concessions would be available for start -up carriers.

The Sri Lankan delegation for the consultations was led by Civil Aviation Ministry Secretary Dr Ravindra Ruberu.

Sri Lankan ambassador in Korea Tissa Wijeratne, Civil Aviation Authority Director General and CEO H M C Nimalasiri, Civil Aviation Minister Advisor Dhammika Attygalle, Senior State Counsel from the Attorney General’s Department Mahen Gopallawa, External Affairs Ministry Legal Officer Tilani Silva, Chief Marketing Officer G T Jeyseelan, SriLankan Airlines International Relations Manager Sri Senanayake and Sri Lanka Embassy in Korea Minister Counsellor (Commercial) Charitha Yattogoda were the other members of the delegation.