British Labour MP Gareth Thomas, who represents Harrow West, has launched a petition calling for direct air links between London and Jaffna International Airport, Hiru News reports.
The petition, titled “Bring Direct Flights to Jaffna,” is addressed at the travel burden borne by British Tamil families making the journey north — for weddings, funerals, religious observances and family reunions.
The argument
There is no direct service between London and Jaffna. Travellers land in Colombo and then face an overland leg of about 400 kilometres, taking six to seven hours by road or rail. Thomas argues that this falls hardest on elderly passengers, young children and anyone travelling at short notice for a family emergency — the circumstance under which much of this travel actually happens.
The petition frames a direct route as cutting journey times, improving accessibility and strengthening cultural ties between the United Kingdom and northern Sri Lanka. It also points to knock-on benefits for tourism, investment and economic development in the Northern Province.
Thomas calls on the UK government, Sri Lankan authorities, commercial airlines and London airport operators to work together on a commercially viable service, and asks the public to sign in support.
Harrow West has one of the larger Tamil populations of any British constituency, which is the constituency logic behind the intervention.
What Jaffna can currently take
The petition arrives at a moment when Jaffna’s international role is being actively expanded from the Sri Lankan side. On the same day, Hiru reported that the domestic carrier DP Aviation intends to rebrand as OCERA Airlines and move into international operations, with stronger Jaffna–India connectivity among its stated network priorities.
That is the more immediate prospect. A London route is a different proposition: it is long-haul, and Jaffna’s airport has to date handled regional turboprop and narrow-body traffic rather than the aircraft a direct UK service would require. Palaly’s expansion and associated land acquisition have been contested locally.
Not reported
Hiru does not say where the petition is hosted, whether it is a formal UK Parliament petition subject to the debate thresholds, how many signatures it has drawn, or when it closes.
It gives no response from the UK Department for Transport, the Sri Lankan government, Sri Lankan Airlines or any London airport, and does not address the operational question the proposal turns on — whether Jaffna International Airport’s runway and terminal can accommodate an aircraft capable of the London sector, or what upgrading would be required.
No other verified newsroom had carried the petition at the time of writing. Tamil Guardian reported it, but the outlet publishes no retrievable article dates, so it cannot be cited here under our sourcing rule.
