IndiGo Airlines has formally requested approval from the Sri Lankan government to commence flight operations to Chennai and Jaffna (Palali) in India, according to reports emerging from aviation circles.
IndiGo Airlines has expressed its intention to initiate research services promptly upon receiving approval from the Sri Lankan authorities for flights between Palali and Chennai.
Presently, IndiGo operates flights between Katunayake and Chennai, and it anticipates that the proposed Palali-Chennai route will witness heightened popularity, catering to the burgeoning demand for air travel between the two destinations.
Mr. Nimal Siripala de Silva, the Minister of Ports, Navigation, and Aviation Services, has reportedly issued directives to airport authorities and the airline company to enhance passenger terminal facilities at Palali Airport, which currently functions as an international airport.
In response to the minister’s directives, officials from both the airport and the airline have communicated the need for approximately 200 million rupees in investments to augment these facilities.
The National Salt Ltd. says that 2,800 MT of salt imported from India have been released to the market.
It says the food-grade salt stock, which arrived on May 23, is being distributed to the market through local salt sales agents for consumer sale.
The Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development states that Lanka Salt Ltd. is importing 10,000 MT of salt, while over 100 importers, including those from Pettah, are bringing in an additional 100,000 MT.
Employees of Michelin Lanka Pvt Ltd, located in the Midigama area of Matara, allege that there are plans to sell the company.
This has raised concerns among employees about job losses, leading to protests.
Workers allege that the company is planning to dismiss them with a minimal severance payment, which they believe is insufficient.
An employee has revealed to the media that after workers were informed about this decision, a newly formed employees’ union has set several demands to the company authorities.
Workers have demanded a fair severance package, but authorities have offered Rs.200,000, (a sum employees consider inadequate) reportedly asking them to provide resignation letters in return.
An employer also states that before the current government took office, Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe had proposed that forming a trade union could help secure workers’ rights. However, the president and secretary of that union are now reportedly in hiding, he employer adds.
Meanwhile, holding a press conference recently, the Inter Company Employees’ Union had revealed that Michelin Lanka Pvt Ltd is in the process of selling the company to the Indian company – CEAT.
According to the union, CEAT has purchased a majority stake in the company.
As part of the deal, it is reported that the Midigama factory of Michelin Lanka Pvt Ltd and part of its operations in Ja-Ela have been transferred to Indian CEAT company.
The Inter Company Employees’ Union had stated there was no issue as a MoU was signed between the two companies to secure workers’ rights. According to the agreement, Michelin Lanka Pvt Ltd had pledged to honor the full service period of affected workers, while CEAT agreed to provide appropriate compensation based on their years of service, the union adds.
Michelin Lanka was previously a part of Camso Loadstar (Private) Ltd, one of the largest suppliers of industrial tyres in the global market.
The situation at Michelin Lanka follows the sudden closure of the NEXT garment factory in the Katunayake Free Trade Zone a few weeks ago, leaving over 1,400 workers jobless.
In a statement, the company cited high production costs as the reason for shutting down operations in Sri Lanka.
The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) has stated that the number of foreign nationals who visited the country in the first 05 months of 2025 has exceeded 01 million.
As of 25 May 2025, a total of 1,006,097 foreign nationals have arrived in the country while a total of 109,213 tourists have arrived in the country in the first 25 days of May, according to the Authority.
