Sri Lanka has decided against giving control of Palaly Airport in Jaffna to India just days after the state-run Airport Authority of India made a move to develop it.
Sri Lankan civil aviation minister Nirmal Sripala De Silva told the parliament that the government had no intention of handing over the airport to Indian authorities. He further said that the airport would be developed in partnership with the Tourism Development Fund and the Civil Aviation Authority.
Earlier, Airports Authority of India (AAI) said that they will develop Palaly Airport in Sri Lanka. “Palaly is in Jaffna in the north — once a hotbed of LTTE. India had earlier promised to develop the Palaly Airport and enhance the connectivity of North Sri Lanka with South India, Malaysia and Thailand.
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“AAI signed an agreement with the ministry of external affairs for preparation of comprehensive project report for development of Palaly Airport in Sri Lanka. Considering AAI’s expertise in airport development, the authority wants to go global. Airports Authority of India has developed over 60 airports in various Indian cities and now wants to use its expertise develop airports in other nations” an AAI official said.
