Mar 15, Colombo: Sri Lanka plans to develop the Palali airstrip in Jaffna as an international airport, a Ministry of Civil Aviation official has said.

The development of the airstrip aims mainly to cater to Indian traffic and the government will seek Indian assistance for the project, the official has told the state-run Daily News.

According to the official, the development of the North is a high priority item in the government's agenda and an international airport in the peninsula would boost the economy in the region greatly.

Palali airport, which is currently under the Ministry of Defense and Urban Development is used mostly as a military airport. It is expected to bee taken over by the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

A fully operational airport in Jaffna would cater to the growing Indian traffic, the official has explained.

"The government has also decided to invest on a second runway at the Colombo airport, enabling even the large A380’s to land in Colombo. Financial assistance for this purpose is expected from Japan," the official has added.