• One Gulf airline still at BIA unable to return due to airport  closure 

Deputy Civil Aviation Minister, Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku said the Government has offered the use of the Mattala International Airport during the ongoing crisis in the Middle Eastern (ME) region. 

Responding to questions from The Daily Morning when contacted, he said the Government has offered the use of the said Airport as an alternative transit point owing to current issues faced by airlines from ME countries.  The offer was made to Etihad, Qatar Airways, Emirates and all other ME flights facing difficulties owing to the war in the ME. 

He noted that currently, there is one airline, also from the Gulf region, which had arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake on 28 February and is unable to return due to the closure of airports. 

According to well-informed sources in the civil aviation industry, tensions in the ME have caused the full or partial shutdown of airspaces that has resulted in severe setbacks for Gulf travel. Many international airports have all been forced to either temporarily suspend or cut down on their operations till the situation eases out, they said.