Sri Lanka bans kite flying near int'l airports to ensure flight safety

Colombo: The Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) (Pvt) Ltd. has banned kite flying near international airports due to safety concerns for aircraft and passengers, state media reported Sunday.

According to the state-owned Sunday Observer, authorities have prohibited flying any object above 300 feet within a 5-km radius of any international airport in Sri Lanka. Violating this rule is considered a punishable offense.

The ban applies to all five international airports across the country, and officials issued the warning to highlight the risks that kites and other airborne objects pose to flight operations and passenger safety.

Flying kites is a popular hobby in Sri Lanka.