Feb 27, Colombo: Korean Air has scheduled to commence operating direct flights from Seoul to Colombo three times a week from March 9, 2013, Sri Lanka Ministry of Civil Aviation said.

The airline will operate flights to Maldives from Colombo and will return to Seoul from Male via Colombo.

Direct air links have been re-established between Sri Lanka and South Korea after a lapse of more than 25 years.

Sri Lanka and Korea has concluded a successful round of air services consultation in expanding bilateral Air Transport arrangements between the two countries in Seoul, Korea. During the consultations, the Sri Lankan side agreed to grant traffic rights for Korean Air to operate flights to Maldives via Colombo whereas the Korean side agreed to grant traffic rights for Sri Lankan Airlines to operate to Seoul from Colombo via Hong Kong, the Ministry says.

Minister of Aviation Priyankara Jayaratne said he has requested Korean Air to touch down the country's newest international airport at Mattala in the future.