The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

More direct flights between Dhaka and Colombo are expected in coming days, as Bangladesh's authorities has significantly relaxed rules for operation of air services between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

The decision was finalised at the Bilateral Air Services Negotiations between the two countries at the Bangladesh Civil Aviation Authority Headquarters in Dhaka recently.

Previous operations of SriLankan Airlines to Bangladesh commenced in July 2000 were suspended in July 2001. Under the new arrangement, the frequency of passenger operations by airlines of both countries have been increased from the existing two to seven flights per week per destination.

Both countries will also be able to designate more than one carrier on such services between Colombo and Dhaka as well as Colombo and Chittagong. The existing fifth freedom right for carriage of third country passenger traffic-Katmandu for Sri Lanka carriers and Male for Bangladesh carriers will remain unchanged.

Freighter operations between the two countries can now take place on unlimited basis between points in both countries. The carriage of third country cargo traffic to and from Sri Lanka or Bangladesh will have to be subject to discussion between aviation authorities of both sides.

The talks were follow up to the Joint Declaration of the Heads of Governments at the last SAARC Summit attended by President, Mahinda Rajapaksa to link the capitals of the region and to encourage people to people contact through expansion of air services.

On the President's direction, arrangements were made by Ports and Aviation Minister Chamal Rajapaksa and Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama to have early discussions at Aviation Secretaries level to provide a conducive environment for operation of viable air services between the two countries.

Shaikh Altaf Ali, Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism headed the Bangladesh delegation. Officials from the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, Civil Aviation Authority, Biman Bangladesh Airlines and GMG Airlines participated. The Sri Lanka delegation was headed by Tilak Collure, Secretary Ministry of Ports and Aviation and officials from Attorney General Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Tourism, Civil Aviation Authority, SriLankan Airlines and Mihin Lanka participated.