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SriLankan Airlines have been asked to hold airfares steady, even as domestic airlines hike prices to Jaffna to cover the soaring cost of fuel.



SriLankan Airlines have been asked to hold airfares steady, even as domestic airlines hike prices to Jaffna to cover the soaring cost of fuel.

The three domestic operators Lion Air, Expo Aviation and Serendib have upped fares on a one way ticket to Jaffna by Rs.

250 with effect from Monday.

"We have decided to impose a fuel surcharge of Rs.

250 on a one way ticket to Jaffna, to overcome fuel prices that have increased by as much as 25 to 30 percent since January," Managing Director of Lion Air, Asoka Perera said.

That effectively puts the price of a round trip to the North at Rs.

9,000 from Rs. 8,500. All three operators as part of the Domestic Air Operators Association fix prices in tandem.

Airline prices are regulated by the Civil Aviation Authority that has to approve any price increase and lays down the maximum allowable price ceiling.

Lion Air and Expo Aviation together operate two flights a day to Jaffna, while Serendib will resume with about four flights a day from August 25,