special deal will allow expatriates a break en route home

Published June 21st, 2007 - 09:41 GMT
Al Bawaba
Al Bawaba

SriLankan Airlines have announced a number of special promotions for travellers who use their service during the summer months. From 15th June to 15th July, any passenger purchasing a ticket to  South India can enjoy a two night holiday in Sri Lanka; staying in either the beach resort of Negombo or the capital of Colombo , for a discounted price of AED 250 and AED 270 respectively.

Customers travelling further afield to the Far East until the end of September can avail themselves of a special two night free stay in Negombo on their return or add on an extension to South India or North India for AED 500 and AED 800 respectively.

SriLankan Airlines Country Manager for the UAE and Russia, Ms. Desiree Premachandra, believes that the special deals will prove particularly attractive to expatriates in the UAE who are flying home for their holidays and wish to take a small holiday break on the way. “We introduced these special offers with expatriates in mind,” she says. “Many employees from India and the Far East travel home during the hot summer months to visit their families and these deals will allow them to either enjoy a short break en route, staying at the capital or the resort at Negombo; or to add on an extra destination for a specially reduced air fare,” she says.

Customers entitled to the two-day holiday in Sri Lanka will have to commence their flights before 15th July., or to Singapore, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur or Hong Kong, until the end of September. “Travellers availing themselves of this offer will have a choice of staying at either the Grand Oriental Hotel, which is a centrally located old colonial establishment in Colombo, or at the Browns Beach Hotel, one of the flagship hotels in Negombo,” says Ms. Premachandra. “The accommodation is on a bed and breakfast basis and includes airport transfers,” she adds. “On the other hand customers wanting to add an extra port-of-call when flying to the same Far East destinations can also choose from a number of scheduled flights to the South and North of India, for a reduced charge of AED 500 and AED 800 respectively, until the end of September,” she continues.

In addition to these special deals, Ms. Premachandra also adds that SriLankan Airlines is also providing passengers travelling from South India to Abu Dhabi on a short transit of between 5–8 hours a free Colombo City Tour with lunch.

Sri Lanka’s National Carrier now flies to 51 destinations in 28 countries across the globe. Its modern fleet consists of Airbus A340, A330 and A320 aircraft, and it has in recent years won such prestigious titles as 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).