Jaffna today can only be reached by air or sea

National carrier SriLankan Airlines is sending a team of experts to Jaffna to study the available facilities.

The experts will visit the military air base of Palaly, located on the northern tip of the peninsula on Friday.

The airline, which is struggling under heavy debt and financial trouble, is hoping to make gains from the lucrative service to Jaffna.

Half of its fleet was destroyed in July last year in a Tamil Tiger attack on Colombo airport.

Free vote

Meanwhile, the government said it is to amend the country's constitution to give parliament members a free vote on issues relating to, what it calls, the national question.

Kumaratunga's party has criticised the move

The Constitutional Affairs Minister, GL Peiris, said the move would introduce a culture of consensual politics in ending the country's long running civil war.

"On matters as important as the ethnic conflict, there should be no artificial fetters on the conscience of an MP", he said.

The governing United National Party does not have a two-thirds majority in parliament.

It has to depend on the main opposition People's Alliance to enact laws that would ensure a political settlement with the rebels.

The proposed amendment would allow opposition legislators to join government ranks without facing disciplinary action and the risk of expulsion from Parliament.

The opposition has criticised the move terming it an attempt by the government to gain necessary support for any political deal which would require a two-thirds majority in parliament.