Direct flights between Sri Lanka-Nepal essential

Enterprise Development and Investment Promotion Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama said on Thursday that the absence of direct flights between Sri Lanka and Nepal was the biggest impediment to bilateral tourism.

He was speaking at a seminar, Windows on Nepal, in Colombo.

"The two governments should seriously consider the resumption of flights between the two countries if we are to promote their tourism interests," he said.

Today tourists visiting the two countries have to fly in circuitous routes such as Bangkok, Delhi, Kolkata or Doha wasting valuable time and money, he said.

The Minister said that both countries were blessed with tourist attractions. Nepal had the breathtaking mountains and Sri Lanka the sun kissed beaches, he said.

Dr. Amunugama reminiscing the days he had worked as a UNadvisor said there were Westerners who used to spend a couple of months in Nepal visiting places of tourist interests such as Kathmandu and Pokhara and to take the direct flight to Colombo from Kathmandu and to visit the beaches in Hikkaduwa and Bentota.

"The flights were full of such tourists who were mainly hippies and the plane smelt of grass," he said in lighter vein.

Today some of them are holding top positions in their respective countries and would have fond memories of the good old days, he said.

As much as the two countries were blessed with many gifts of nature , they also had their share of problems, he said.

"Sri Lanka is saddled with the civil war and Nepal also has experienced a similar problem. But I am rely happy to note that Nepal has entered the democratic process," after going through a bad period," he added. There were opportunities to promote bilateral trade, he said.