SL, Philippines to start commercial flights

Sri Lanka and the Philippines will soon finalise an agreement to begin commercial flights from Sri Lanka to the Philippines via Sri Lankan airlines.

This was relayed by Sri Lankan Ambassador Nawalage Bennet Cooray, who called on Vice President Jejomar C. Binay at the Coconut Palace in Pasay City, this week.

The Ambassador said the Sri Lankan Government is hopeful that, once in place, the flights will pave the way for stronger economic ties between the two countries.

There are currently no direct flights between the two countries.

Under the new deal, the flights between Manila and the Sri Lankan capital Colombo will reportedly be increased to four from two a week.

Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne also visited Binay early this year during the Wesak or Buddha Day.

The Philippine Vice President said the two countries could share experiences especially on insurgency problem.

He noted that the Philippines could learn from Sri Lanka on how its Government handled “what seemed to be an impossible dream in the past,” referring to the downfall of Tamil Tigers in 2009 after decades of battle against the Sri Lankan Government.