BIZ

Indigo launches Mumbai-Colombo direct flights

Published

1 year ago

April 12, 2024

nipuni

Indigo has expanded its connectivity to Sri Lanka adding Mumbai-Colombo direct flights from today (12), Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Pvt) Limited said.

Accordingly, Indigo will operate flights three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

At present, Indigo operates to three destinations in India from Colombo (Chennai twice daily, Bengaluru once daily and Hyderabad six days per week). With this new route expansion, this will increase to four destinations, and it will contribute immensely to the development of travel, trade and tourism between Sri Lanka and India.

With the new addition, Indigo will operate 30 weekly flights to Colombo from four main cities in India.

“AASL recently had successful negotiations with Indigo to commence flight operations between Jaffna and Chennai, India. Accordingly, Indigo will commence direct flight operations between Jaffna and Chennai from June 1, 2024 onwards with daily flight operations. This connectivity will boost travel and trade in the Northern Province, strengthening the cultural and religious bonds between the two nations”, Eng. Athula Galketiya, Chairman of Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Pvt) Limited (AASL) said.

BIZ

Cement wholesale prices surge

Published

22 hours ago

June 9, 2025

editor

Cement companies have increased the wholesale price of a 50kg bag of cement by Rs.100, effective from yesterday (June 08).

The retail price remains unchanged.

The price hike is attributed to rising cement production costs, according to the companies.

BIZ

SriLankan sends special relief flight to Sumatra

Published

4 days ago

June 6, 2025

editor

SriLankan Airlines has dispatched a special relief flight – UL 302 from Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) to Medan International Airport on the Indonesian island of Sumatra to transport 101 passengers and crew members of SriLankan Airlines flight UL 306, which was grounded due to a technical fault.Singapore-bound SriLankan Airlines flight UL 306, which departed from BIA in Katunayake for Singapore last evening (June 05), had made an emergency landing at Medan Kuala Namu International Airport due to a technical issue.

Following an inspection by an Indonesian technical team, it was determined that the necessary repairs would require additional time. Therefore, SriLankan Airlines decided to accommodate the passengers in hotels.

Although a complication had initially arisen when Indonesian authorities initially declined to grant permission for hotel transfers, it was later resolved through the intervention of the Sri Lankan Ambassador to Indonesia.

Meanwhile, a technical team from Sri Lanka had departed for Indonesia on a flight bound for Jakarta this morning (June 06) to further inspect the grounded aircraft.

BIZ

Minister warns to impose MRP on salt

Published

5 days ago

June 5, 2025

editor

Minister of Trade – Wasantha Samarasinghe has warned that the government will be forced to introduce a Maximum Retail Price (MRP) for salt by this week, if importers attempt to sell imported salt at higher prices.

Speaking at a media briefing, he said that a kilo of imported salt will cost Rs. 77, along with the 40% tax imposed by the government.

“Let’s say it has been priced at Rs. 80 a kilo. Then, wholesale traders are allowed to keep a profit of Rs. 10, 20, or 30. But not beyond this margin. However, if importers are trying to use this shortage to create a racket, then I would like to warn them not to engage in such activities. We will be forced to impose a Maximum Retail Price if this continues,” he added.