Conditional Cabinet approval for direct flights from Israel

The Cabinet of Ministers green-lighted to operate direct flights for Israeli Airline — Arkia, subject to conditions. 

The airline will have to follow security protocol standards similar to that of Dubai and Bangkok when establishing its offices in Sri Lanka. 

“Generally, the airline operates with two armed guards onboard and due to this fact the flight was not permitted to operate into Sri Lanka citing security concerns,” Tourism Minister Harin Fernando said.

He said Foreign Affairs Ministry should inform Israeli authorities that the authorities of the security personnel on board the flight are limited to security affairs inside the aircraft.

Despite the long overdue, Fernando was hopeful of attracting large numbers from Tel Aviv this year.

“Israeli tourists are high spenders and their arrival to Sri Lanka has been on the rise this year,” he added.

As per Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) data, Israel ranks 12 tourist source markets for Sri Lanka year-to-date with 2% or 8,034 arrivals.

The proposal to this effect submitted by Tourism Minister Fernando was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers at its meeting on Monday.