Lanka to suspend night operation at international airport

Colombo, May 5 (UNI) Sri Lanka has decided to suspend the night operations at the only international airport in the country for six hours at night from next week as a safety measure following the recent LTTE air raids.

A statement from the President's office read the decision to suspend night operation at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) was taken following request made by the airlines operators based on their commercial and other considerations.

''The government has decided to confine the operational hours to between 0400 hrs to 2200 hrs daily as a precautionary measure to minimize inconvenience caused to both the airline operators and passengers,'' the President's office said.

''This position will be reviewed at regular intervals,'' it said, adding the night time shut down will come into effect from May 10, aiming to give more time for airlines to reschedule their flights.

The government's precautionary measure has come at a time when at least three international airlines are already mulling to operate only day-time flights, moved by the second air strike carried out by the LTTE last month in and around Colombo in the wee hours using light wing aircraft.

UNI