Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2011-04-06

Air services negotiations between Sri Lanka and United Kingdom

- the aeronautical authorities of Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom have held bilateral negotiations in London in February, 2011 to discuss air services between the two countries, further to the agreement reached in April 1998. The new negotiations concluded will provide the following:

* increase the present frequency entitlement from 14 - 21 flights per week between the two countries, starting in the Winter Season 2011/2012;
* Sri Lanka designated Sri Lankan Airlines and United Kingdom designated British Airways, British Midland International Limited and Virgin Atlantic Airways Limited to operate the agreed services;
* allow designated carriers of Sri Lanka to carry passengers to Canada from Sri Lanka and London and vice versa for 07 flights per week; and
* allow to operate unlimited cargo operations between the two countries.

The proposal made by Hon. Piyankara Jayaratne, Minister of Civil Aviation to sign the above Air Services Agreement was approved by the Cabinet.