India, Sri Lanka consider open sky policy

BY A CORRESPONDENT
May 11, 2006

SAARC members India and Sri Lanka are considering an open sky policy to facilitate air connectivity between the two nations, provided such an arrangement can be reached within the existing framework of the SAARC air traffic agreement.

Sri Lankan minister of foreign affairs, ports and aviation Mangala Samaraweera, who met with his Indian counterpart Praful Patel in New Delhi, commented positively on the meeting, saying, "We had a fruitful discussion regarding increasing the number of services between the two countries and also the possibility of an open sky policy." The Indian minister added, "Sri Lanka is one of the countries which has utilised its entitlement to the maximum and the Sri Lankan government is keen that India opens up more."

The next, more detailed stage of the talks will take place in June-July in Colombo, where the two nations will consider possibilities of extending the flexibility of the existing bilateral framework.

Additionally, Patel stressed that while India supported the move to enhance air connectivity between the two countries, no agreement outside the SAARC framework would be considered. He said, "We have a standard policy template on aviation for the SAARC countries, which applies to each and every nation of the group and whatever we do will have to be within that framework."

The agreement will look to facilitate connectivity, explore other possibilities of increased cooperation, open up of additional points for the designated Sri Lankan carriers and increase cargo flights into India.

Although India has a liberal air service agreement with SAARC nations, unlike Sri Lanka, it has not utilised it to the maximum. The last time the Air Services Agreement between the two countries was reviewed was in bilateral talks held between April 30 to May 1, 2002. Currently, only Air India, Indian Airlines, Jet Airways and Air Sahara fly into Sri Lanka from India, while only Sri Lankan Airlines flies into India.