Media update from Sri Lanka Tourism

Monday 26 March, 2007, 4.30 a.m. Colombo

Colombo Airport back in operation

The Colombo International Airport which closed for less than two hours as a result of the incident at the air force base earlier this morning is now back in operation. Flights that had already arrived in Sri Lanka are scheduled to leave shortly for their destinations and those that were diverted to Chennai, Trivandrum and Male are expected to return to Colombo within the next few hours.

The Sri Lanka Tourist Board this morning set up a hotline to assist tour companies, hotels, tourists and other passengers with telephone numbers 2437759 and 2437061 which will be operational through out the day tomorrow.

Sri Lanka Tourism will do everything possible to minimize any inconvenience to tourists arriving in and returning from Sri Lanka said Renton de Alwis, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Tourist Board.

No passengers or tourists have been hurt in any way at the airport, as the incident took place at an air force base away from the airport’s civil passenger terminals.

For more details contact

Mr. K.A.D George Michael - Addl. Secretary Ministry of Tourism 011-2387471 / 0777340669

Mr.Renton de Alwis - Chairman of Sri Lanka Tourism 011-2437953 / 011-2437759 / 0777687765

Sri Lanka Tourist Board

80, Galle Road, Colombo – 03

Sri Lanka.

E-mail – charman@srilankatourism.org

Fax: +94 112 2437953