Sri Lanka air force offers flights after floods block road

May 19, 2010 (LBO) - The Sri Lanka Air Force is offering services to transfer by air passengers traveling to the main international airport at Katunayake, north of the capital Colombo, because of floods on the main road, officials said.









A 15-seat Y-12 light aircraft can be charted by groups at the rate of 55,300 rupees for flights from the airbase at Ratmalana, a suburb south of Colombo.

The service was offered by the SLAF's commercial arm, Helitours, after floods made the main Colombo - Katunayake road impassable for light vehicles.

The rate for individuals is 3,800 rupees but departures would depend on when the aircraft's other seats get filled, officials said.

Some airlines have asked passengers to arrive four hours before their flights because of congestion at the airport caused by floods.

Many days of heavy rains have caused flood in many areas of the island, making several roads impassable, and submerging homes of people living in low-lying lands.