A new Colombo-Jaffna direct flight will begin today under the government’s initiative of boosting domestic air services in the country. Accordingly, the government is also focusing attention on developing fight routes to Batticaloa, Mattala and Katunayake in the future.This ATR/72 aircraft provided by the Fits Aviation (Pvt) Ltdcan carry 70 passengers and will operate every Saturday, Monday and Wednesday. The flight leaves the Ratmalana airport at 7.30 am and reaches the Palali airport at 8.30 am.The flight will be operated to coincide with the arrival and departure of all alliance flights between Jaffna and Chennai. A one-way ticket between Colombo and Jaffna is Rs.7,500. and a round trip ticket would be Rs.15,000. Earlier, the cost of the round trip ticket was Rs.33,000.