SL to enter into a bilateral aviation pact with Netherlands to start direct flights

The Cabinet has given the go-ahead to engage into a bilateral aviation agreement with the Netherlands, which may lead to the beginning of direct flights between the two nations, thus boosting tourism, trade, and investments.

Nimal Siripala de Silva, the minister of ports, shipping, and aviation, this week submitted a resolution to the Cabinet of Ministers requesting the signing of a bilateral aviation agreement with the Dutch government.

“This agreement will make it possible for Sri Lanka and the Netherlands to start flying directly. According to Bandula Gunawardana, minister of transport, highways, and mass media, it will enhance investment, trade, and tourism between the two countries. He made the announcement to reporters in Colombo yesterday.

Despite the establishment of diplomatic ties between Sri Lanka and the Kingdom of the Netherlands in 1951, there are no flights that connect the two countries directly.

The Netherlands continues to be one of the major export and tourism markets for Sri Lanka in the European Union (EU).

The Netherlands continued to rank as the 14th-largest source market for Sri Lankan tourism in the first nine months of the year. The Netherlands ranks among the top five EU markets for Sri Lankan exports in terms of export volume.