SriLankan Airlines commences double-daily services to Mumbai and 94 flights a week to India .

Company News
MUMBAI, January 29

 

SriLankan Airlines, for many years the largest foreign carrier operating to India, is expanding operations with the launch of double-daily flights to Mumbai (Bombay), the country's commercial capital this February.

 

The additional flight adding to the present daily frequency to Mumbai will also raise the number of flights throughout India to an unprecedented 94 per week to 10 cities - 15 to Chennai, 13 to Trivandrum, 11 to Kochi, 10 to Trichy, 8 to Calicut, daily to New Delhi, Hyderabad, and Bangalore, and 2 to Goa.

 

Manoj Gunawardena, Head of Worldwide Passenger Sales at SriLankan said: "It will not be long before SriLankan realizes the dream of a hundred flights a week to India! It is our aim to serve as many Indian cities as frequently as possible. Travellers can take full advantage of our rapid connections in Colombo to Europe, Middle East, Far East and the Maldives with the double-daily service from Mumbai increasing the level of convenience."

 

Flying time from Mumbai to Colombo is a mere 2 hours and 25 minutes. The new flights are conveniently scheduled to depart Mumbai daily at 2:55 p.m. and arrive in Colombo at 5:20 p.m. The return flights are scheduled to depart Colombo at 11:45 a.m. and arrive in Mumbai at 2:00 p.m.

 

Senaka Fernando, Regional Manager Indian Subcontinent & Maldives, said: "The increase in flights to Mumbai is the result of a recent bilateral meeting between India and Sri Lanka that reinforces the excellent cooperation that exists between the two nations. India has so much to offer in terms of history and culture and we are spearheading massive campaigns to lure more tourists to this fabulous country"

 

The launch of additional flights to Mumbai is part of SriLankan's strategic plan to strengthen its market presence in India which remains the foremost tourism generating market for Sri Lanka. The additional flights will also support the airline's campaign to promote tourism to India from its worldwide network through the Colombo hub. SriLankan Airlines works in close collaboration with Indian tourism authorities to effectively promote in-bound tourism to India and has a strong marketing partnership with the State Government of Kerala.

 

Operating a fleet of modern Airbus A340's A330's and A320's, SriLankan now serves 50 destinations in 28 countries, and has gained a reputation as an award-winning airline. These include "World's Best Airline" in a survey of Economy Class passengers, "World's Friendliest Cabin Staff", first runner-up for "World's Best Cabin Staff", "Best Overall In-flight Entertainment (small fleet), and "World's Most Efficient Operator of Airbus A330s (small fleet)" from Airbus Industrie.

 

SriLankan has also dominated regional awards, winning the Skytrax award for "Best Airline in Central Asia" for four consecutive years, as well as the TTG Asia Award for "Best Airline in South Asia" three times, and the Galileo Indian Express Award for the "Best Eastbound International Airline from India".

 

 

 

SriLankan Holidays' exciting holiday and business packages from Mumbai to Sri Lanka

 

SriLankan Holidays, the leisure arm of SriLankan Airlines, is offering exciting holiday and business packages to coincide with the launch of double-daily services to India's commercial capital, Mumbai.

 

Leisure packages start from INR 9,999 and holidaymakers can choose from a variety of exotic vacations in the western coastal resort of Negombo, the capital city of Colombo, the hill capital of Kandy, the south-western beach resort of Bentota, or combinations of two destinations. Packages are valid throughout the month of February 2007.

 

Amith Sumanapala, General Manager, SriLankan Holidays, said: "We have developed a range of holiday packages that research shows our customer's desire and as a result have designed our holiday offers keeping in mind the high priorities of the discerning Indian traveller."

 

Packages start with 2 nights / 3 days in Negombo or Colombo, or 3 nights / 4 days in either Colombo and Kandy, or Colombo and Bentota. The Colombo packages include a half-day city / shopping tour.

 

"Each of these destinations offers something that is uniquely different that we believe will be highly appreciated by our Indian customers," said Mr. Sumanapala. "The hotels we have chosen are the most suitable and are 100% reliable with the finest standards in excellent service. Our range of hotels in Colombo also allow easy access to great night spots including restaurants, night clubs and casinos"

 

The MICE packages (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions) start from INR 10,999 and are also valid throughout February 2007. Packages are for Colombo, Negombo, Kandy and Bentota – and include a full day of meetings at the host hotels. Customers can choose from 2 nights / 3 days in or Colombo, or 3 nights / 4 days in either Colombo and Kandy, or Colombo and Bentota.

 

Package rates for both the leisure and MICE packages includes return economy class airfares inclusive of all taxes, airport transfers in Colombo, and accommodation on bed & breakfast twin sharing basis.

 

Further details can be obtained from SriLankan Airlines Ticket Offices, any partner travel agents of SriLankan Airlines, or the SriLankan Holidays website www.srilankan-holidays.com

 

 

 

Book Online with SriLankan Airlines and Win your Money Back!

 

Launching their double daily services to Mumbai, SriLankan Airlines is inviting passengers from Mumbai to celebrate with them by winning their money back by booking flights through the Internet!

 

"We are giving a very special fare of INR 8,000 for a return trip from Mumbai to Colombo. On top of this, there will be a daily winner during the course of the promotion and lucky passengers will get their money back!" said Senaka Fernando, Regional Manager Indian Subcontinent & Maldives. "The only condition is that passenger's book through our Internet Booking Engine at www.srilankan.aero."

 

The draw will be held daily. Winners will be informed individually by e-mail, and a list of all winners will be posted on the SriLankan Airlines website www.srilankan.aero.

 

Passengers can book with ease through the website in six easy steps, and pay for their tickets by credit card through a secure payment gateway. All they need to do is print out the ticket which would be e-mailed to them, and bring it to the airport in order to check-in for the flight. Bookings on the website can be made for a flight up to a mere four hours before departure, in the comfort of one's home or office instead of wasting valuable time booking through more traditional methods.

 

Visit www.srilankan.aeromumbai for more details of this promotion. The offer is valid for flights up to 31st March 2007.

 

SriLankan Airlines, the largest foreign carrier in India, is launching double-daily flights to Mumbai on 2nd February, an increase from the present daily frequency. This will also raise the number of flights throughout India to an amazing 94 to 10 cities.

Karuthapakshigal sweeps film awards

 Malayalam superstar Mammootty was yesterday adjudged the best actor at the Atlas-Film Critics Awards here for his sterling performance in Karuthapakshigal and Kaioppu. In Karuthapakshigal, Mammootty shed the star image to play a poor Tamilian.

 

The best actress award was given to Padmapriya for her performance in Karuthapakshigal and Yes Your Honour. Karuthapakshigal, which depicts the life of people living in slums, bagged a total of seven awards.

 

The film bagged the Atlas-Film Critics Award for the best Malayalam film for the year 2006. Kamal, who directed the film, bagged the best director award.

 

The awards were announced by Atlas Group chairman M.M. Ramachandran, Kerala Film Critics Association president Thekkinkad Joseph and general secretary Mannarkkayam Baby at a Press conference here yesterday.

 

Lenin Rajendran's Rathirimazha and Renjith's Kaioppu shared the award for the second best film. P.V. Gangadharan would be honoured by giving Chalachitra Ratnam for his overall contribution to the film field.

 

Jagathy Sreekumar and Mohini bagged the awards for the best supporting actor and actress respectively. A special award would be given to actor Indrajit. M.G. Sreekumar and Manjari bagged the playback singer awards.

 

The best child actor is Master Devdas and best music director and lyricist are Alex Paul and Rajeev Alunkal respectively. The awards would be given away at a function to be held at Calicut on April 2, according to the association leaders.

Kozhikode to host Islamic students conference

KOZHIKODE: Many religious scholars from India and abroad, political leaders cutting across party affiliations and academics would participate in the Islamic students conference starting from February 2.

 

Union Minister G K Vasan would be the Chief guest at the inaugural function of the conference organised by Muslim students movement and to be held at 16 different venues in the city, reception committee chairman Hussain Madavoor and general convenor K Harsheed told reporters here on Monday.

 

Kerala Jame-Athul-Ulama general secretary A Abdul Hameed Mahdani would inaugurate the organisational camp at nalanda auditorium, they said.

 

Scholars confirmed participation in the three-day programme from abroad were Chihat Gundogdu, Alihan Kamki from Turki, Khalid Abdulla Abdubella, Sudan, Emad M Hamdunna, Palestine, Kam Allail, Syria, Rajavo Bella, Nigeria, Syed Sale, Yeman, Assayyid Makavi, Egypt and Abu Sahil, Jordan, they said.

 

Kerala ministers benoy viswam and M A Baby, KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala, former Union Minister M P Veerendra Kumar, MP, P V Abdul Wahab, MP, Kerala Students Union state president Vishnu Nath, MLA, Students Federation of India state president M Swaraj, scholars Anuradha Chinoy, Professor Kamal Mitra Chinoy, both from Jawaharlal Nehru university and Justice P K Shamsuddhen, would be some of the other prominent participants in various events, including debate and seminars, they added.
    

AI flights rescheduled

Kozhikode: Air-India will operate flights from Karipur airport to Kuwait deploying 757-200 aircraft from February 1. However, due to operational reasons the Calicut-Kuwait flights have been rescheduled.

 

On Thursdays, flight AI-850 will arrive from Kuwait at 8.20 a.m. and flight AI-851 will depart for Kuwait at 9.45 a.m. On Sundays, AI-850 will reach from Kuwait at 5.55 p.m. and AI-851, will depart for Kuwait at 6.55 p.m.