G S T Lanka Travels Pvt Ltd

04/10/2017

World Tourism Day Celebration - Colombo University students of Tourism Economics..

23/09/2017

"I lost Rs. 50 somewhere on the road!
On my way I found a piece of paper tied to an electric pole, with a small note on it.
I was curious to know what was written, hence went closer and read it. "I lost Rs. 50 somewhere on the road. If any of you find it, please give it to me at this address. My vision isn't great so please help."
I was to follow that address and found an old hut in shatters with an older woman sitting outside. She was frail and asked who is it, following my footsteps.
I said I came by this way, found Rs. 50 on the road so wanted to handover to you.
She began crying on hearing this. She said "my dear I have had atleast 30-40 people come over and give me Rs. 50 saying they found it on the road. I didn't write that note; I cannot even see properly nor do i know to read and write"
I said it's OK amma you keep it. She asked me to tear that note off on my way back.
I walked back with a million thoughts as to who could have written that note? She would have asked everyone to tear that note but none did. I mentally thanked that person and realised that we just have to feel the need to help, there are many ways to do.He/she just wanted to help this old woman
Someone stopped me n asked, "Bro, can you help me with this address? I found a 50 rupee note, want to handover""

14/09/2017

[1832] - lost his job
[1833] - failed in his business
[1835] - lost his sweetheart
[1836]- suffered nervous breakdown
[1838]- defeated in his run for Illinois speaker
[1843]- defeated in the run for Congress
[1856] - defeated for US senate
[1858] - defeated for the nomination of Vice president

[1860] - Abraham Lincoln elected as the President of America, and went on to become one of the most famous presidents in the history.

Are you still afraid to fail??

31/08/2017

Service is the foundation of loyalty in hospitality business. You can have guests walk into your Hotel, but to have them walk into your Hotel again and bring others with you – that is where true success is.

30/08/2017

Some CEOs run the business, some businesses run the CEO!

Much like in war, if the capabilities of a CEO gets tested and strengthens, depends on the intensity and diversity of the opponents and the encounters. The tougher the terrain, the more unconventional the opponents, the stronger the CEO becomes. The tougher the climate within the ranks (in the organization), the more ‘real’ the CEO gets.
By contrast, if it is a ‘ceremonial army’ where all the instructions comes from ‘above’ and those ‘below’ are faithful followers, chances are you will end up with a Ceremonial CEO!

30/08/2017

https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fjournalistontherun.com%2F2017%2F08%2F23%2Fplaces-to-visit-in-sri-lanka%2F&h=ATNR4U-irKdjDK0jB55rIMgKekVniDrjATl0CNjeaxafSS1UbbFduFJUc1VXC8iU1XpY7MUBca4tKZAzGffSRluR48LmOXXsvKYWvYjUp_DHBiRcKOiRMpwDXM8-4nHVko9RwwtKj4wi6q-4Ee5_yGLyvL5VxmfWstmIY3H7uTPZ2RUoTGm0c59HIGrKMyA2z1IVavwoY92zqnY3mkFV5nKQCKiYJQxoTPZutOayVUWt2HP6_i7aMBp58j-i2LWhI_Bv1AtIeF0-J7eGYxOly-SI1lJVHKL1

From elephant safaris and whale watching to pristine beaches with turquoise waters and ancient temples, these are the best places to visit in Sri Lanka.

15/08/2017

01/08/2017

21/07/2017

17/06/2017

Brain damaging habits

1. No Breakfast
People who do not take breakfast are going to have a lower blood sugar level. This leads to an insufficient supply of nutrients to the brain causing brain degeneration

2. Overeating
It causes hardening of the brain arteries, leading to a decrease in mental power

3. Smoking
It causes multiple brain shrinkage and may lead to Alzheimer disease

4. High Sugar Consumption
Too much sugar will interrupt the absorption of proteins and nutrients causing malnutrition and may interfere with brain development

5. Air Pollution
The brain is the largest oxygen consumer in our body. Inhaling polluted air decreases the supply of oxygen to the brain, bringing about a decrease in brain efficiency

6 . Sleep Deprivation
Sleep allows our brain to rest. Long term deprivation from sleep will accelerate the death of brain cells

7. Head Covered While Sleeping
Sleeping with the head covered increases the concentration of carbon dioxide and decrease concentration of oxygen that may lead to brain damaging effects

8. Working Your Brain During Illness
Working hard or studying with sickness may lead to a decrease in effectiveness of the brain as well as damage the brain

9. Talking Rarely
Intellectual conversations will promote the efficiency of the brain

06/06/2017

Sri Lanka named Asia’s leading destination 2017
AFP Relaxnews | June 6, 2017
Sri Lanka has been emerging as an interesting travel alternative to Thailand, for its beaches, wildlife safaris and adventure tours.

Adventure-seekers and intrepid globetrotters looking to blaze new trails in Southeast Asia will want to consider adding Sri Lanka to their travel bucket list, after the country claimed the title of leading destination and leading adventure tourism destination for Asia over the weekend.
At the World Travel Awards Asia & Australasia 2017, which were held in Shanghai, Sri Lanka took the title of leading destination for the region, an award that reflects a country’s range of tourism products and services.
The country was also named the leading adventure tourism destination.
Winners are based on an online voting process cast by industry leaders and travel professionals.
Sri Lanka has been emerging as an interesting travel alternative to Thailand, for its beaches, wildlife safaris and adventure tours.

Along with its native land mammals — elephants, leopards and wild buffalos — the island’s marine surroundings make the destination one of the best for whale and dolphin watching.
Sri Lanka is also known among thrill-seekers for offering top-notch surfing and diving experiences, jungle treks, hikes and elephant-riding and rock-climbing adventures.
Other big winners of the night include The Oberoi Udaivilas in India, which took home the title of Asia’s leading hotel 2017 and The Peninsula Hong Kong, which was named Asia’s leading luxury hotel 2017.
For Australasia, the Pullman Sydney Hyde Park in Australia was named the leading hotel, and Yasawa Islands in Fiji Australasia’s leading destination.
Here are some of the big winners from the gala event:
Asia
Leading airline: Hainan Airlines
Leading airline economy class: Cathay Pacific
Leading beach destination: Thailand
Leading boutique hotel: Casa Del Mar Langkawi, Malaysia
Leading city break destination: Hong Kong
Leading cruise line: Star Cruises
Leading fine dining and hotel restaurant: La Maison 1888 InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort, Vietnam
Leading low-cost airline: AirAsia
Australasia
Leading airline: Air New Zealand
Leading private island resort: Laucala Island, Fiji
Most romantic resort: The Remort Resort, Fiji Islands

02/06/2017

Tourism taskforce to drive 2025 vision

A new high-profile taskforce has been appointed to drive Sri Lanka’s 2025 vision for the tourism industry.

The 13-member taskforce recommended by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has been approved and appointed by the Cabinet.

The taskforce is chaired by Hari Selvanthan and comprises Tourism Ministry Secretary Janaka Sugathadasa, Sri Lanka Tourism Chairman Paddy Withana, Harry Jayawardena, Udaya Nanayakkara, Merril J. Fernando, Dhammika Perera, Abbas Esufally, Shiromal Cooray, Geoffrey Dobbs, Dinesh Weerakkody, Dileep Mudadeniya and Thilak Weerasinghe.

John Amaratunga’s Tourism Ministry will be responsible for monitoring the progress of the recommendations made by the taskforce. The members of the taskforce met Prime Minister Wickremesinghe prior to his departure to the US.

The tourism industry also has an Advisory Council appointed under the Tourism Act. It comprises several of the members of the new taskforce as well and meets quarterly.

Sources said the council plays a more advisory role whereas the taskforce will be more aggressive in terms of policy and strategy with several critical subcommittees to drive national plans.

The industry has set its sights on four million tourist arrivals by 2020, with earnings of $ 5 billion.

At present tourism accounts for close to 5% of Sri Lanka's $ 81 billion GDP. Tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka crossed the two million milestone for the first time in history, reaching 2,050,832 arrivals, recording an impressive annual growth of 14% in 2016.

Earnings from tourism last year hit an all-time high of $ 3.4 billion as against $ 2.98 billion in 2015.

Post-war Sri Lanka has enjoyed a 93-month streak of tourist increases until February this year when arrivals were impacted because of the partial closure of Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) to upgrade the runway.

Arrivals in the first four months of this year were up 6% to 765,202 with performance in January-March impacted by the partial closure of BIA.

Though Sri Lanka is targeting four million tourists by 2020 (original figure was 4.5 million but was revised to lure more quality and high-spending visitors), recently the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) said its forecast for Sri Lanka in 2020 is 3.7 million with an annual average growth of 10.4% from 2017 onwards.

However, Sri Lanka’s growth estimate is a higher forecast for Asia Pacific which is 6% in 2017 and will continue at 5% per annum to 2021. South Asia’s average is 7.5% per annum and Southeast Asia’s is 6.6% although both are among the fastest growing destination sub-regions between 2016 and 2021 according to PATA. - See more at: http://www.ft.lk/article/619523/Tourism-taskforce-to-drive-2025-vision .MEJHwWBQ.UccVGbWA.dpuf

20/04/2017

Chinese tourists spent 12% more in travelling abroad in 2016
PR No.: PR 17046
12 Apr 17
2016 results on expenditure from major outbound markets reflect increasing demand for international tourism across the world, as reported in the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer. With a 12% increase in spending, China continued to lead international outbound tourism, followed by the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom and France as top five spenders.

“The latest data on outbound tourism spending are very encouraging. Despite the many challenges of recent years, results of spending on travel abroad are consistent with the 4% growth to 1.2 billion international tourist arrivals reported earlier this year for 2016. People continue to have a strong appetite for travel and this benefits many countries all around the world, translating into economic growth, job creation and opportunities for development” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai.

Chinese tourists spent 12% more on tourism abroad in 2016

2016 was another strong year for outbound tourism from China, the world’s leading outbound market. International tourism expenditure grew by US$ 11 billion to US$ 261 billion, an increase by 12% (in local currency). The number of outbound travellers rose 6% to 135 million in 2016. This growth consolidates China’s position as number one source market in the world since 2012, following a trend of double-digit growth in tourism expenditure every year since 2004.

The growth in outbound travel from China benefited many destinations in Asia and the Pacific, most notably Japan, the Republic of Korea and Thailand, but also long-haul destinations such as the United States and several in Europe.

Aside from China, three other Asian outbound markets among the first ten showed very positive results. The Republic of Korea (US$ 27 billion) and Australia (US$ 27 billion) both spent 8% more in 2016 and Hong Kong (China) entered the top 10 following 5% growth in expenditure (US$ 24 billion).

Second largest market the United States maintains strength

Tourism spending from the United States the world’s second largest source market increased 8% in 2016 to US$ 122 billion, up US$ 9 billion on 2015. For a third year in a row, strong outbound demand was fuelled by a robust US dollar and economy. The number of US residents travelling to international destinations increased 8% through November 2016 (74 million in 2015).

By contrast, Canada, the second source market from the Americas in the top ten, reported flat results, with US$ 29 billion spent on international tourism, while the number of outbound overnight trips declined by 3% to 31 million.

Germany, the United Kingdom, France and Italy lead tourism spending in Europe

Germany, the United Kingdom, France and Italy are the four European markets in the top ten and all reported growth in outbound demand last year. Germany, the world’s third largest market, reported 5% growth in international tourism spending last year, rebounding from weaker figures in 2015, reaching US$ 81 billion.

Demand from the United Kingdom, the world’s fourth largest source market, remained sound despite the significant depreciation of the British pound in 2016. UK residents' visits abroad were up by 5 million (+7%) in 2016 to 70 million, with expenditure close to US$ 64 billion.

France, the world’s fifth largest market, reported 7% growth in tourism expenditure in 2016 to reach US$ 41 billion. Italy recorded 1% growth in spending to US$ 25 billion and a 3% increase in overnight trips to 29 million.

Many more source markets report growing outbound expenditure

Among the largest 50 source markets, there were another nine that recorded double-digit growth in spending in 2016: Vietnam (+28%), Argentina (+26%), Egypt (+19%), Spain (+17%), India (+16%), Israel and Ukraine (both +12%), Qatar and Thailand (both +11%).

By contrast, outbound tourism from some commodity exporters continued to be depressed as a consequence of their weaker economy and currencies. Expenditure from the Russian Federation declined further in 2016 to US$ 24 billion. International tourism spending from Brazil also decreased in 2016.

Note to Editors

The above data is preliminary and subject to revision. Comprehensive results are included in the latest issue of the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer.

Relevant links:

UNWTO World Tourism Barometer

International Tourism Expenditure – Top Spenders 2016 Infographics

International Tourist Arrivals 2016 Infographics

21/03/2017

23 reasons to visit Sri Lanka
1. To get wild
Dive with blue whales in season or watch spinner dolphins leap about in Kalpitiya. Sri Lanka also has 5,800 wild elephants ambling about and the biggest concentration of leopards in the world. See them in Yala national park, along with sloth bears and buffalo.
2. For cricket in Galle
Sleepy Galle is a haven for grown-up backpackers, with Dutch colonial architecture, jewellery shops, ice cream parlours and an almost complete dearth of nightlife. It is also where to catch an international cricket match or have a knock about near an old fort.
3. There's an entire ministry for crab
Opened by two former national cricket players in an old Dutch hospital, Colombo's Ministry of Crab serves knockout sweet, succulent and spicy Sri Lankan crab in what is one of the capital's most beautiful buildings. The restaurant itself was also voted one of Asia's 50 best restaurants last year.
4. Get lost in caves
The Dambulla Buddha caves are filled with Buddha statues, cave paintings and are amazingly atmospheric.
5. See elephants
The kindest way to see elephants is by volunteering at an elephant sanctuary. Working Abroad has information on positive projects around the country. (workingabroad.com).
6. The trains are impossibly scenic
A newly reopened train route from Colombo to Jaffna promises an eye-opening journey through Sri Lanka
The recent reopening of the Yal Devi (Queen of Jaffna) Express provides visitors to Sri Lanka with an opportunity they have not had since 1990: to travel by train from Colombo to Jaffna.
The railway journey between Kandy and Ella is also one to remember.
• Sri Lanka from the sky: spectacular drone footage of the island
7. They have the world’s most adaptable snack
You can dine on hoppers for a song. The dish is composed of a thin, crepe-like batter that's infused with coconut milk and spices and crisped into a bowl shape to hold fried eggs. It's versatile enough to serve as a breakfast dish, quick snack or hangover cure dependent on your needs.
8. Tea and an early morning hike
Sri Lanka is famous for its Ceylon tea. Walk past lush green tea plantations on a four-hour trek up to Ella Rock for amazing views.
9. Hotels to get excited about
Plenty of new hotels have opened recently, including a handful of beach resorts, including contemporary KK Beach, with its own beach club near Habaraduwa.
Also see the luxurious but sustainable Tri (see our review), chic Chena Huts, the Anantara resorts and beautiful boutique Owl and Pussycat.
10 ...there's also one in a giant elephant
See the eco-lodge at Kumbuk River, bordering the Yala National Park. It’s right in describing itself as “one of a kind”.
11. A totally tropical Greggs
Forget cheese lattices and limp sausage rolls, Perera and Sons sell tasty Chinese rolls, samosas and savoury bites. They’re literally everywhere but cheap and hugely popular in Sri Lanka.
12. To surf and to party
In the south east of the island, Arugam Bay is a crescent of golden sand that offers barrelling breaks during summer days and beach parties galore on balmy nights. In winter, drag your board to Weligama.
13. It’s 'India Lite'
It’s just so much easier to travel here than in India. Transactions go more smoothly, things work and best of all, trains and planes leave near enough on time. And there’s a fantastic network of hotels, all of which you can book on the web.
14. For a vision of hell
Inside Wewurukannala Vihara temple are models of humans being boiled alive and sawn in half - eek! Visitors must first walk past these horrors before reaching a giant Buddha.
15. To think of England
The British-built town of Nuwara Eliya is “where the elite go to be cold and damp and imagine they’re in England”, according to John Gimlette.
16. Peaceful beaches
Uppuveli and Nilaveli, both close to Trincomalee on the north east, are secluded and stunning stretches of sand. The few accommodation options are spread out, making these beaches perfect for lonely wanderings.
17. Good-looking rocks
Considered a must-visit attraction, Sigiriya is an abandoned palace (its ruins are almost entirely eradicated) at the top of a soaring, gargantuan bolder. Those with vertigo should avoid as the ascent is up an extremely steep, extremely narrow staircase. Traces of ancient frescoes are still visible on some walls, and two lion's paws, hewn from the rock and dating from the 5th century, are a unique design feature placed at the base of the final stairwell.
18. Seaplane to heaven
A growing network of seaplane routes provide flights from teeming Colombo to the country's lush interior and the ocean-fringed jungles on the south of the island.
19. South-east Asia at its most chilled
While not quite as sleepy as Laos, the pace of life in Sri Lanka is sedate in comparison to other popular tourist destinations in Asia, making it a good introduction to the region for travellers.

20. Virgin rainforest walks
Sinharaja rainforest is a beautiful natural heritage site – the country’s last viable area of primary rainforest - and still not well known. You can go for treks and swim in the waterfalls but keep an eye out for snakes and spiders among the varied plant life.
21. Genteel full-moon festivals
Poya festivals celebrate the full moon with Buddhist calm, the Poson Poya in June being a particularly elegant affair, where people dress all in white, make pilgrimages to Mihintale – a sacred mountain peak - and light pretty lanterns.
22. Kite festivals
Galle Face beach is a great place to fly a kite – or watch others take to the skies - on a blustery day.
23. See Buddha - or Adam's - footprint
The top of Adam's Peak is thought holy by Buddhists, Christians, Muslims, Hindus and the Veddas, Sri Lanka's early inhabitants, who all believe the imprint of a footprint in the rock here belonged to a very important person.

20/03/2017

Huge Blue Whale Colony Discovered in Sri Lanka

There was a time when Blue whales were hunted almost to extinction. That changed in 1966 when protective laws were enacted to save the blues, the largest animal on earth. Now there’s a new development, and it’s a good one. A huge Blue whale colony has been discovered in Sri Lanka.
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5MPbZZ4xJA

www.srilanka.travel/ https://www.facebook.com/Awesome.SriLanka Spotting blue whales in Sri Lanka

10/03/2017

Shangri-La Colombo to open later this year

Shangri-La Hotels Lanka sales and marketing head Neluka de Alwis explaining the project details. Pic by Vipula Amerasinghe
Shangri-La Hotels Lanka sales and marketing head Neluka de Alwis explaining the project details. Pic by Vipula Amerasinghe
The Shangri-La Hotel Colombo will open in the latter part of this year. Shangri-La Hotels Lanka sales and marketing head Neluka de Alwis said 57 % of the 390 luxury apartments has been sold by now which was a great achievement.

Among the buyers are Sri Lankan diaspora and international investors, she said. Shangri-La Hotel also incorporates a 1,800 sqm ballroom, 50,000 sqm retail mall and 125,000 sqm office space.

De Alwis said the work on the residencies was continuing on plan and was scheduled to be completed in the latter part of 2018.

The Hong Kong-based Shangri-La group broke ground in the US$650 million mixed used property in Colombo on 10 acre land in February 2012 under an investment commitment of US$ over US$ 720 million to complete its projects in Colombo and Hambantota.

10/03/2017

Sri Lanka Tourism can be easily converted to a Rs.10 billion industry in less than two years, Ambassador for Sri Lanka in Germany, Karunatilleke Amunugama said.

Speaking to Daily News Business at the ITB Travel Fair here, he said the German travel agents as well as the German Government are keen to help Sri Lanka to achieve higher targets in tourism arrivals.

‘‘This is the reason that three members from representing the German Parliament were present at the opening ceremony of the Sri Lanka Stand on day one.

Meanwhile, SriLankan Airlines’ Europe Sales Head Manoj Gunawardane said that though Sri Lankan pulled out from Rome, Frankfurt and Paris they still market the airline.

‘‘We still get 20% of the previous market and our aim is to increase if further,’’ he said.

He said that they now have agreements with several European airlines that fly European passengers to Gulf destinations from where they are being connected to SriLankan which has a strong presence.

He also said that the airline is not paying for the slot they occupied in these three destinations. ‘‘But as and when the performance increases we will be able to get slots back at these three destinations.”

He also said that what the airline now has to do was to concentrate heavily on London which is the only connections to Europe, the national carrier has.

Meanwhile Sri Lanka Tourism’s Additional Marketing Director Dushan Wickramasuriya said they hope to attract over 120 top travel journalists to Sri Lanka this year.”We met them at the recently concluded IMM Journalists event on Tuesday in Berlin and invited them to visit Sri Lanka and do news items and documentaries on Sri Lanka,”he said.

Sri Lankan Tourism’s marketing budget will spend for them as the mileage we get from them is unmatched.’’

10/03/2017

SilkAir to commence Colombo flights from April

SilkAir, the regional wing of Singapore Airlines (SIA), will commence flights to Colombo on April 8, 2017. SilkAir will operate three flights per week. SIA will continue to operate its daily night flight SQ468 and return flight SQ469. The new service to Colombo, MI428, will be scheduled on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, with a same-day return flight operating as MI427, similar to the current SIA timing. The services will be operated with Boeing 737-800 aircraft, featuring both Business and Economy Class cabins. Customers will be provided with a full-service experience, including in-flight meals, in-flight entertainment on SilkAir studio, baggage allowance of 40kg and 30kg for Business Class and Economy Class, respectively, as well as through check-in if they are connecting to or from another SilkAir or SIA point via Singapore. SilkAir flies to 52 destinations across 14 countries in the world. Attractive Business Class fares on Singapore Airlines and SilkAir are on offer to Singapore, Hong Kong, China (Beijing, Shanghai), Japan (Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, Fukuoka), Australia (Adelaide, Cairns, Darwin, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra) and North America (Los Angeles, San Francisco). These special fares are available for purchase until March 31, 2017 for travel out of Colombo by June 30, 2017. - See more at: http://www.dailymirror.lk/article/SilkAir-to-commence-Colombo-flights-from-April--125133.html .xdz2jKPr.dpuf

SilkAir to commence Colombo flights from April , SilkAir, the regional wing of Singapore Airlines (SIA), will commence flights to Colombo on April 8, 2017. SilkAir will operate three flights per week.

08/03/2017

Sri Lanka to showcase new products,hotels at ITB Berlin

Sri Lanka Tourism is participating in the annual International Tourismus Borse (ITB Berlin), which will begin at the Messe Berlin today, one of the largest exhibition venues in the world.

This year there will be a record 120 representatives consisting of top 60 travel agents and hoteliers, representing Sri Lanka at the event.

“The ITB Berlin will be an excellent opportunity to promote Sri Lanka as a compact destination filled with cultural and historical values. Sri Lanka has achieved a positive growth in the tourism sector,”Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau Chairman Paddy Withana said.

“Due to the peace and reconciliation process in Sri Lanka, there is a better and a safer environment for tourists to have a holiday experience of their choice. I’m sure this will be a great experience to all travel and tourism industry officials who will want to proceed further and take their fields to greater heights,’’he said.

In 2016, total number of arrivals was at 2,050,000 where it marked a 14 % increase. Tourist arrivals from Western Europe were reported as 643,333, which was a 16.5% increase compared to the same period last year. Germany recorded 133,275, tourist arrivals which was a 15% increase compared to the same period in the previous year.

The opening ceremony will take place with the ceremonial lighting of the traditional oil lamp today at 10 a.m.

This will be followed by a press conference on March 9, and over 60 foreign journalists are expected to attend the conference.

It is an annual event which takes place in March, where Sri Lanka has been a regular participant.

ITB is also one of the most important events in the international tourism calendar, and also the world’s largest tourism trade fair.

04/03/2017

28/02/2017

SriLankan welcomes first A320neo aircraft


SriLankan’s first A32Oneo aircraft being welcomed at Bandaranaike International Airport with a traditional water canon salute

National carrier SriLankan Airlines yesterday received its first A320neo Airbus aircraft, which the airline expects to utilize to gain more traction in the Asian and Middle Eastern markets under the airline’s new strategic focus in becoming a major regional player.
SriLankan said the second A32Oneo aircraft is scheduled for delivery in April 2017, followed by two A321neo aircraft in the second quarter. A third A321neo is to arrive before the end of 2017, with the fourth A321neo is due in the first quarter of 2018. According to SriLankan, A320neo, which has 138 Economy and 12 Business Class seats, delivers more than
15 percent fuel saving.

“The ‘neo’ series has been designed to provide significantly lower fuel consumption and lower operating costs through more modern engines, aerodynamic refinements, large curved winglets known as sharklets and weight savings,” SriLankan Airlines CEO Captain Suren Ratwatte said.
Airbus ‘neo’ stands for ‘new engine option’ and it is said to have captured 60 percent market share in its category.
“Our airline realigned its strategic focus during the last quarter of 2016 to capitalise on market opportunities in the rapidly growing travel and tourism industry in Asia, which included the launch of services to 11 new destinations throughout the Indian Ocean and Middle East regions.
The arrival of the A32Oneo and A321 neo aircraft will better align our fleet to this objective, as these aircraft are more suited to our medium-haul operations, while we already possess an excellent fleet of A330 aircraft for our long-haul routes,” SriLankan Chairman Ajith Dias said.
SriLankan also took delivery of seven brand-new wide-body A330-300 aircraft last year, which can cater to long-haul destinations. However, London is the only long-haul destination SriLankan flies at the moment as it restructured its European routes, abandoning Frankfurt and Paris last year in an attempt to cut costs.
SriLankan’s global network covers 101 cities in 47 countries. As a member of the oneworld global airline alliance, SriLankan also connects its passengers to oneworld’s worldwide network of more than 1,000 destinations in 160 countries.

- See more at: http://www.dailymirror.lk/article/SriLankan-welcomes-first-A-neo-aircraft-124586.html .ZkM08vRk.dpuf

SriLankan welcomes first A320neo aircraft, National carrier SriLankan Airlines yesterday received its first A320neo Airbus aircraft, which the airline expects to utilize to gain more traction in the Asian and Middle Eastern markets under the airline’s new strategic focus in becoming a major regional...

27/02/2017