Sri Lanka, Oct. 17 -- The Jaffna International Airport was declared open by President Maithripala Sirisena in Palaly today. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation Arjuna Ranatunga along with other dignitaries graced the inaugural event. Sri Lankan transport minister Arjuna Ranatunga said the airport built with Indian assistance marks an important development for the region as well as the whole of Sri Lanka. Marking inauguration of Jaffna International Airport, Alliance Air (the subsidiary of Air India) launched a flight to the airport with invitees from the aviation industry on Thursday. Jaffna will be the airline's 55th and first international addition to the list.

The runway length has been extend...