Sri Lanka will launch its second international airline to provide affordable services to travelers and promote regional tourism, a senior official said Thursday.

 

Anura Yapa, minister of Media and Information and the government spokesman told reporters that the government-owned budget airline "Mihin Air" will be launched shortly after the cabinet approved the proposal Wednesday.

 

"The government will provide the initial capital," Yapa said without disclosing the amount.

 

The low cost airline will be aiming to provide affordable services to less affluent travelers, people leaving for overseas employment, particularly in the Gulf and West Asian countries and to promote regional tourism, said the minister.

 

"Mihin Air is budget airways which will minimize the cost spent on air travels up to 50 percent in the future," said Yapa.

 

Sri Lanka's national carrier Sri Lankan Airlines, which started in 1979 and was privatized in 1998, is managed by Emirates Airlines.

 

(Xinhua News Agency January 19, 2007)