The ICRC’s weekly flight between Jaffna and Colombo has become the lifeline for many people particularly for patients who need specialized surgery, medical diagnosis or other forms of medical treatment that is not available in the peninsula.
The ICRC has been operating a weekly charter flight between Colombo and the Jaffna peninsula since the closure of the main A9 highway in 2006 and hundreds of people have benefited from this service, the ICRC said in a news release.
Although there is a boat service available from Jaffna to Trincomalee, this is not practicable for patients given the time it takes and the cost involved, said Emmanouil Kokkiniotis, who coordinates the flight at the ICRC office in Jaffna. |
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