Nepal-Sri Lanka air link being mulled

Authorities are mulling resuming air link between Kathmandu and Colombo. In the past Nepal Airlines Corporation used to operate in this sector.

According to Sri Lankan ambassador Sumith Nakandala, necessary studies are being conducted for the purpose.

For the last three, four years, we are studying the feasibility of direct flight, whether airlines company will be able to bear it financially or not? How much will be the air traffic flow? How reliable will be the route? Only after studying these aspects will the direct link be operated, the ambassador said, addressing a programme organised to launch Nepal-Sri Lanka Cultural, Social, Economic Forum.

The authorities of two countries had held a discussion on this issue during last August and a Nepali delegation is slated to visit Colombo in June to carry forward the dialogue.

The ambassador added that since direct flight may not be commercially viable, studies are also being done to explore about linking the two cities via New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata or by making Kathmandu a transit point.

Meanwhile, with the objective of enhancing the bilateral ties, the Nepal Sri Lanka Cultural, Social, Economic Forum has been established. Tourism entrepreneur Joy Dewan heads the Forum while Rajendra Khetan, industrialist, is its general secretary. nepalnews.com sd May 29 07