Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation Anura Karunathilaka stated that immediate steps are being taken to bring back Sri Lankan passengers stranded at foreign airports due to the escalating situation in the Middle East.
Speaking at a media briefing held at the Ports Ministry today (02), the Minister said that while most international flight operations have resumed, services to and from the Middle East remain suspended. Accordingly, 65 scheduled departures and 60 scheduled arrivals today (02) have been cancelled.
He explained that several air zones in the Middle East region have been temporarily closed, while others are operating only for limited hours. As a result, all flights to and from the Middle East have been cancelled until 12 midnight tonight. The decision on further operations after midnight will be taken based on the evolving situation.
The Minister further stated that efforts are underway to repatriate Sri Lankan passengers stranded abroad as soon as possible. He also noted that flights to destinations such as England and the United States, which usually transit through the Middle East, are now being discussed for rerouting via Turkey.
With regard to maritime operations, the Minister confirmed that there have been no disruptions to ships scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka at present. However, several cargo vessels have requested facilities at the Ports of Colombo and Hambantota, and authorities are prepared to provide the necessary support.
He also warned that disruptions to shipping traffic in the Middle East and Gulf region could affect exports to those markets. In this regard, exporters — particularly those shipping tea to the Middle East — have been advised to temporarily refrain from bringing such goods to the ports until normalcy is restored.
