Sunday Dec 22, 2024
Sunday Dec 22, 2024
Thursday, 18 August 2022 00:22 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Charumini de Silva
The Government has kicked off the search for reputed and competent local firms to operate core duty-free shops at Jaffna International Airport (JIA), to revamp its facilities before scheduled flights resume operations.
Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd. has called for proposals under national competitive bidding from reputed retail business entities, registered companies, establishments, and proprietorships with experience in the core category of retail operations at airports and ports to operate duty-free shops both in the arrival and departure areas of JIA, Palaly.
Bids to operate core duty-free sales of all types of liquor, perfume, cosmetic/toiletries, confectionary, and tobacco products (only at the departure terminal) at the country’s third international airport have opened, sources familiar with the matter told the Daily FT.
The move would revamp its facilities to attract more Indian holidaymakers to support the tourism industry and help to attract foreign exchange to ease the economic crisis.
As per AASL, visitors are normally allowed an exemption from Customs duties on personal belongings such as clothing, cosmetics, and gifts up to a value of $ 250 and a maximum of 1.5 litres of liquor and two bottles of wine.
A pre-bidding meeting in this regard will be held on 2 September, followed by a visit to JIA.
The Palaly airport was reopened as Jaffna International Airport on 11 November 2019, following the completion of the redevelopment project with the support of India. However, its operational activities were suspended from 15 March 2020 again as a result of the COVID–pandemic.
Currently, no scheduled flights are operating to Jaffna, although in June the Government announced that it had decided to resume operations at the JIA from 1 July, after two years. The JIA runway can only accommodate 75-seater flights.
“The international and regional airlines have already submitted requests to resume operations of rented air tours as well as time-framed flights from and to Jaffna International Airport, particularly from South Indian destinations,” a statement comprising Cabinet decisions issued by the Government Information Department noted on 28 June.
Fast forward one month, and there are still no flights operating to JIA.
