Several new Indian airlines are ready to operate flights to Jaffna from new destinations, said Consul General of India in Jaffna Raakesh Nattaj on the sidelines of the 13th Edition of the Jaffna International Trade Fair which began at the Muttraweli Grounds, adjoining the Jaffna Fort.
The event is organised by Lanka Exhibition and Conference Services (Pvt) Ltd (LECS), in association with the Chamber of Commerce and Industries of Yarlpanam (CCIY).
It concludes today, March 5.
He said that Alliance Air operates four flights per week to Jaffna from Chennai and all the flights are full. “We wish to promote flights from other destinations in India such as Colombathurai and Bangalore to fly to Jaffna and this is expected mid this year.”
New Indian airlines too have expressed interest in adding Jaffna to their radar. However, only a small 75-seater plane could land in Jaffna.
The Consul General said they are also issuing visas to fly to Jaffna and there is an increase in this segment as well.
An airline cargo service too is expected to be launched.
President Yalpanam Chamber of Commerce, K. Vignesh said the exhibition had been a platform to promote entrepreneurship to the North east soon after the war ended.
He said that the exhibition has also paved the way for SMEs to find new markets as well.
Since the first edition in 2002 JITF has evolved into an annual trade platform.
The event is a multi-trade affair featuring industries, products and services in the Agriculture, Hospitality, Education, Food, Machinery, Construction, Consumer, Electronics, Power, Textile, IT and Real estate sectors.
High Municipal taxes
An official of the Yalpanam Chamber of Commerce lashed out at the Jaffna Municipality and said that though the JITF is the gateway to North and opening new vistas for businessmen in North, the Municipality charges exorbitant taxes when hosting this event for the past three years.
“Each year this amount is increasing and this year the organisers had paid over Rs. 3 million to host this event and this is more than what Colombo Municipality charges.”
JITF is a major event in the MICE event calendar of Sri Lanka. The three-day exhibition provides a major boost to the Hospitality Industry and economy in Jaffna, due to the large number of exhibitors and visitors who travel to the region during the event.
“They even charge other payments from stallholders for displaying their hoardings.”
An official of the Jaffna Municipality said that overheads are increasing and this is the reason for the high taxes.