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Four Indian Naval ships INS Tir , INS Shardul , INS Tarangini and ICGS Varuna of Indian Naval 1st Training Squadron arrived Sri Lanka in the morning today (9thOctober 2010). INS Tir , INS Shardul and ICGS Varuna arrived at port of Trincomalee while INS Tarangini arrived at Port of Colombo.

The ships were ceremonially welcomed in accordance with Naval traditions by the Sri Lanka Navy and are scheduled to stay in Sri Lanka till 15th October. During the stay a special programme has been arranged for the group of one hundred and sixty (160) visiting Indian Naval officer cadets. A number of one hundred and fifty (150) Officer under trainees from Naval & Maritime Academy- Trincomalee are scheduled to board the Indian ships for a session of sea training.

The crew of Indian ships is expected to participate in a series of special training programmes organized by the Sri Lanka Navy to enhance the relationship between the two neighbouring Navies.

Prison Reforms Minister, DEW Gunasekara had recently met with the man who led the devastating LTTE attack on the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in July 2001.

The Minister met Kennedy, when he had visited the rehabilitation centre in Omanthai, where the former hardcore LTTE cadres are being rehabilitated/awaiting trial on September 30.

Gunasekara was the first government minister to visit the hardcore cadres who are being rehabilitated.

Minister Gunasekara told The Nation that there 890 former hardcore combatants were being rehabilitated and that he was invited by the army to speak to them.

I spoke to them on the invitation of the army. Kennedy, who led the attack on the airport in 2001, came forward shook hands and spoke to me in Sinhala, Gunasekara said.

He told me that they have been in the rehabilitation centre for 16 months. I told them that the law has to take its due course and also mentioned that the JVP members who were involved in the insurrection were jailed for four to five years and some of them are in Parliament today, the minister added.

Earlier on the same day, the Minister attended a function in Pampaimadu, Vavuniya where 403 former combatants were released after being rehabilitated.

They were not hardcore cadres, Gunasekara said.
More than 11,000 ex-combatants had surrendered to the military and were being rehabilitated.

Gunasekara said around 4000 have already been released after rehabilitation.

The releases are being carried out in batches. We will be releasing more ex-combatants next month as well, he said.

The former combatants are given vocational training in various fields before being released.

With tourism arrivals expected to climb to record levels this winter, the domestic airline segment is the next growth sector of the economy, travel experts predict. Deccan Aviation, the country's only privately owned domestic airline has announced the commencement of a helicopter shuttle service from the international airport in a move timed before the launch of Sri Lankan's own air taxi operations.

'We have been virtually the sole internal air option for tourists and investors for the past several years and the launch of the heli shuttle service from the international airport is for the expected influx of visitors in the months ahead. We are very excited at being able to offer our guests our services on a per seat fare basis for the first time and will be the first helicopter scheduled service in the country', said the company in a statement.

'The daily double service' will link the International airport with any destination in the south coast from October 15, 2010 with two daily flights.

'What is unique about our daily double scheduled operations is that, unlike other scheduled operations, the actual destination where you will land in the schedule is determined by the client, not by the operator,' explained Denham Schokman, Director, Deccan Aviation. Elaborating on the objectives of introducing the new scheduled operations, Mr. Schokman stated that it aims to introduce more flexibility and popularise air travel in Sri Lanka. It will also allow passengers to enjoy and spend more time at their destination, thereby improving efficiency and augmenting their travel experience.

' Helicopters offer a utility unmatched by any kind of plane, and what this means for the passenger is a drop exactly at their hotel or project site, and not at a place requiring a further trip by road'

The twice daily schedule will depart from the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) at 6.30 am and 15.30 pm, and returning to the airport at 10.20 am and 18.30 pm, respectively, while stopping at various destinations on the southern coast including Bentota, Galle and Tangalle.

Deccan is Sri Lanka's only airline with the approval to fly both fixed wing and helicopters, over the past six years, Deccan has flown both the leisure and corporate travelers to various destinations across the country including regional charters to destinations such as Maldives and India. The operator already boasts of 180 established helipads all over Sri Lanka, with the newest entrant to its list of destinations being Colombo 6.

In addition to the scheduled operations, it is understood that Deccan will continue to fly on charter to other destinations in the country.

Further enhancing the services offered by Deccan, a second helicopter will be inducted in the future, while December will see the arrival of a new eight-seater aircraft, GA8, to Sri Lanka. 'We hope to adopt the same strategy and operate scheduled services using the GA8 aircraft, not only to the coastal destinations, but to other parts of the country, like Jaffna, Trincomalee and Ampara,' Denham stated.

GA8

The GA8 is offered in two versions - The 300 horsepower normally aspirated GA8 and the turbocharged GA8-TC 320. Australian designed and manufactured utility aircraft specifically engineered to meet the latest international airworthiness and safety standards as well as the demands of remote area operations from unimproved strips. No other aircraft in its class can match the load carrying capacity or its flight handling characteristics. The following are some of the features of the Airvan that make it such a capable, reliable and versatile workhorse.

Designed for Remote Area Operation

Developed to handle the gruelling conditions of the Australian landscape, the Airvan is ideal for operators in remote areas. The Airvan s high lift wing, rugged all spring-steel undercarriage (no oleos to go flat), high flotation tyres and excellent propeller ground clearance equip the Airvan to operate happily from short semi prepared primitive airstrips.

Low Operating Costs

The GA8 has been specifically designed to realize low maintenance expenses and was designed to be maintained with only basic maintenance support facilities. Careful attention to design detail, the elimination of maintenance intensive features and the provision of easy maintenance access has resulted in an extremely reliable aircraft with a high despatch rate and excellent economy of operation.

Versatile Cabin

The GA8 has more than twice the cabin volume of comparable aircraft. The cabin, which has two crew and six passenger seats, has a flat floor and a storage area in the rear fuselage for the carriage of light but bulky items or for several of the passenger seats if not required. Quick release seat/cargo net/workstation mounting points allow for rapid changes of cabin configuration to meet the requirements of each particular mission. The easy operating cabin sliding door, which is located aft of the wing, allows clear access to the cabin with the flaps up or down. The sliding door is certified for in-flight opening for roles such as parachuting, skydiving, supply dropping, observation, a variety of photographic applications including air to air, air to ground, cinematography and many other types of operations to suit military and law enforcement tasks.

Cabin Comfort

Crew and passenger comfort features include at least one individual air outlet to each passenger from the fan boosted overhead ducting. The crew seats are each equipped with multiple air outlets with increased airflow capacity. The heating system is entirely adequate for Australian operations yet is able to meet the requirements of sub arctic conditions such as are encountered in Canada and Alaska. A factory installed air-conditioner system is available.

The government has decided to setup a new National Intelligence Service through a new act of parliament.

It is to be established with basic civil features and like in other countries.

Informed government sources said that this service would be established under the Ministry of Defence on an urgent basis and the government expects to submit the draft bill soon.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his capacity as the Defence Minister has already submitted the cabinet paper in this regard.

The new intelligence service would comprise internal and external sections under the direct administration and supervision of the defence ministry.

Government sources said that the new Intelligence Service is to be set up, taking into consideration the necessity to safeguard the peace and stability in the country through an efficient national security system.

SriLankan Airlines will embark on a major upgrade in service with the leasing of new aircraft to its fleet.

This will provide more facilities and comfort to the traveller.

It will expand its business in several areas including the purchase of new aircraft, introduction of new destinations, increase frequencies and the commencement of air taxi operations, SriLankan Airlines Chairman Nishantha Wickremasinghe said.

'Sri Lanka will explore new markets for the leisure sector. The country could capitalize on the fondness of Americans for new experiences and could be the land for pleasure seekers from the USA and Canada', he said.

The first ever visit by a group of leading North American and Canadian tour operators on a familiarization tour was organised by SriLankan Airlines to promote Sri Lanka as a new tourism destination for tourists from the USA and Canada.

With the positive climate prevalent in Sri Lanka, the country has a strong base to provide capacity for tourism growth. The country is ready to embark on this expansion program to cover top ten tourism generating markets and to spread its wings as far as North America, SriLankan Airlines Chief Executive Officer Manoj Gunawardena said.

'Final plans will be made in a few weeks to bring in new type of tourists from places where we did not have access before. Sri Lanka is a good product and value for money', he said.

The USA and Canada tour group was of the opinion that Sri Lanka is a fabulous place to visit. They were delighted that they were a part of the visiting team.

'Sri Lanka is the best place to visit. The country is amazing and incredible. We are privileged to be here.

There is much potential in adventure, culinary, eco and photography tourism. The memories of Sri Lanka will last for a life time', they said.

'We need to sign joint venture agreements for more tourists to visit this country. The destination is wonderful and hospitality is second to none. The smile of friendly people is a plus point and it is true that people make destination special', they said.

SriLankan Airlines is currently working together with its interline partners - American Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, United Airlines, Etihad Airways and Malaysia Airlines to provide connections to the airline's gateway points in Europe and the Far East.

It is working together with Sri Lanka Travel Inc. and Sri Lanka Tourism on a strategic plan aimed at North American and Canadian leisure markets.