‘YoungSmiLes’ for kids from SriLankan Airlines

(Colombo, Lankapuvath) – SriLankan Airlines celebrated International Children’s Day on 1st October, with the long awaited launch of its kids frequent flyer programme – ‘YoungSmiLes’.

Open to children between two and eighteen years, ‘YoungSmiLes’ is operative in three distinctive categories – ‘Young Blue’, ‘Young Silver’ and ‘Young Gold’ and brings with it a range of benefits and conveniences to its young members.
 Among them are Pre-assigned seating, Dedicated service centre, Waitlist priority, Priority check-in, Excess Baggage, Priority Baggage Delivery, FlySmiLes upgrades and free tickets, Lounge access, Guaranteed seat reservations, Retro Miles, Class bonus Miles and Tier bonus Miles depending on the category one is in

Manager Marketing Services, Mrs. Ruwanthi Rodrigo said, “The launch of ‘YoungSmiLes’ is the realisation of a long term dream. With it we’re proud to extend the excellence of our products and services to our junior passengers and welcome them to the SriLankan family. Not only do we welcome junior passengers resident in Sri Lanka, but also our thousands of junior passengers from all parts of the world”.

Applications could be obtained from www.flysmiles.com. The child’s parent or guardian needs to complete the YoungSmiLes Application Form and forward it with a letter of consent together with a copy of both the adult’s and child’s passport.

Applications should be sent to  FlySmiLes on youngsmiles@srilankan.aeroThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or fax the documents to 019733 5333.

To celebrate the launch, SriLankan Airlines is offering bonus miles for new enrollments upto 31 October 2011. If the parent or guardian is an existing FlySmiLes member, the YoungSmiLes member will receive a bonus of 1500 miles. For non-members, the YoungSmiLes member will receive a bonus of 1000 miles.

Travel undertaken prior to the launch of the YoungSmiLes Programme is not eligible to be accrued. Once the member reaches 18 years of age, membership will be automatically converted to FlySmiLes with no consent required from the Parent/Guardian.
 

Top surfers to ride A-Bay waves at SriLankan Airlines Pro

(Colombo, Lankapuvath) - Sri Lanka’s eastern coastal resort Arugam Bay plays host for the second consecutive year, to the ‘SriLankan Pro Surf 2011’ - one of the world’s top-rated surfing events, as part of SriLankan Airlines’ multi-pronged strategy to position the island as one of the world’s most sought after travel and sporting destinations.

With two principal events – Men’s World Long board Tour and the Women’s 6 Star World Tour, the ‘SriLankan Airlines Pro 2011’ tournament will attract top stars of the surfing world to Arugam Bay from 30 August to 04 September, with over a 100 competitors from around the world.

The women’s event is a Six Star World Qualifier and will be held in Sri Lanka for the first time with nearly 60 participants from Australia , New Zealand , Spain , Hawaii , South Africa , Portugal , Costa Rica , Ireland , Italy , Puerta Rico , B razil , Japan , UK , Indonesia and Tahiti, billed to ride the waves off Sri Lanka ’s east coast.

Organized by the Australian Surf Professional ASP, the SriLankan Airlines Pro 2011 is an important event for professional surfers. It has the highest rating of ‘Six Stars’ on the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Tour by which competitors qualify to contest for the World Title.

‘SriLankan Airlines Pro 2011’ will showcase the picturesque southeast resort of Arugam Bay aka A-Bay, one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, positioning it as a destination for all types of beach lovers, and not just for surfers. It will also bring high exposure to Sri Lanka as a leisure island.

SriLankan Airlines’ Chairman, Nishantha Wickremasinghe said, “ Sri Lanka is firmly back on the world travel map and has proved its ability to host mega events such as this. Having been associated with the sport of surfing for nearly a decade, SriLankan Airlines is happy to bring this top level competition to our shores once again, thus showcasing both Sri Lanka as a holiday destination and the stunning A-Bay in particular.”

SriLankan Airlines is the Principal Sponsor of the event for the second consecutive year with the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotions Bureau (SLTPB) as a co sponsor.
 

New era of Aviation training begins: The SriLankan Flight Academy opens

(Colombo, Lankapuvath) - Aircraft flying training enters a new dimension in Sri Lanka, with the opening of SriLankan Airlines’ Flight Academy, with its first Airbus A320 full flight simulator, located in the Bandaranaike International Airport BIA), offering a total flying experience on ground, to facilitate training for pilots not only in Sri Lanka but in the region of South Asia.
 President Mahinda Rajapaksa declared open the facility today (20) continuing his visionary drive towards the government’s target in turning Sri Lanka into a regional hub for knowledge and education, envisioned in the 5-phased programme of the Mahinda Chinthanaya.

Joining the President was the Ambassador of the Netherlands in Sri Lanka; Airport & Aviation, Tourism; SriLankan Airlines’ Board of Directors, the Management team and staff, in support of developing an Aviation Training & Knowledge hub in Sri Lanka.

SriLankan Airlines’ Chairman, Nishantha Wickremasinghe in his welcome address to President Mahinda Rajapaksa, expressed his gratitude for the vision, direction and support extended to the national carrier to expand and move forward, as part of a futuristic national plan to develop the aviation sector for the future generations in Sri Lanka. The Chairman said “Today, we begin a new phase in Sri Lanka’s Aviation sector and we look forward to being a centre of training excellence to the current and future pilots in the region.”

SriLankan Airlines signed a 10-year lease agreement with SIM Industries Netherlands to promote the training capability in the region. The Airbus A320 Simulator will be able to provide the required flying training for SriLankan cadet pilots, First Officers and Captains as well as provide training time to guest pilots from other airlines in the region.

Frank Uit den Bogaard, CEO of SIM Industries, said: "SIM Industries is delighted to partner SriLankan Airlines in this long-term venture. We have been looking at opportunities in South Asia for some time, and there is no doubt that Colombo is an excellent strategic location to serve the region’s airlines.

We will provide a sophisticated flight simulator that will reduce training costs for airlines in South Asia, and even neighbouring regions such as the Middle East and Far East."

“As the airline expands, we are determined to maintain the highest standards of pilot proficiency. The new simulator will be of enormous benefit in our drive for operational excellence” said the airline’s Head of Flight Operations, Captain Navin De Silva. “The Simulator will work in 4-hourly slots, 24-hours a day making excess time available for guest pilots from the region to undergo training” the Captain added.

As with all of SIM Industries’ simulators the A320 simulator is of ‘Level D’ standard, the highest level of certification which makes it identical to that of an aircraft. Whilst saving time, energy and money, it enables a total flying experience on ground, qualifying the pilots to take on a direct ‘Simulator to aircraft’ capability.

SIM Industries BV (www.sim-industries.com) is a manufacturer and operator of flight simulators with a global reputation for full flight simulators that have the most advanced components from aircraft manufacturers. SIM Industries simulators deliver unsurpassed realism, user friendliness, safety, reliability and performance.

The second phase of the academy will see the installation of a SIM Industries Airbus A330 Simulator, towards the second quarter of 2012 which will further widen the scope of the training facility at BIA. The Academy will also include all other support services within a purpose-built three story construction.

Hikkaduwa Marine National Park Opens

(Colombo, Lankapuvath) - Marking yet another step towards boosting tourism industry within the reviving Island nation, the Marine National Park at Hikkaduwa was declared open for the local and foreign tourists yesterday (29).
The opening was marked by a ceremonious event which was graced by Lukshman Yapa Abewardhana, Deputy Minister of Economic Development and S.M. Chandrasena, Minister of Agrarian services and Wildlife. evening.

Addressing the gathering Minister said the beaches are the major tourist attraction in our country. We have to identify tourist hotspots and develop those areas to meet the expectations of the visitors. We are doing it now.

He also noted Hikkaduwa Marine National Park covers an area of 101 hectares including a snorkeling and diving zone and also a bathing zone, catering to the diverse needs of both local and foreign adventure seekers. The marine park offers a diverse collection of sea creatures as well as beautiful fringing reefs of various corals

The already existing Hikkaduwa National Park was remodeled under this ambitious plan, offering local and foreign tourists a chance to have a well organized and safe recreational experience at affordable prices.

An MOU has been signed by the Wildlife Department and the boat service providers of the area assuring that more reliable and consistent prices would be charged from tourists rather than continuously fluctuating individual rates. Scheduled boat tours assure that the service providers get equal opportunities to contribute to the accelerating industry.

The opening of the Hikkaduwa Marine National Park not only has it’s developmental value, but also a unique environmental value. The remodeling involves a conscious activism in terms of marine life and environment protection. A Coral regeneration plan is a vital part of the park’s vision of a healthy and sustainable tourism industry. And a garbage management program too has been initiated, parallel to the opening of the marine park. And under this initiative, a tractor was donated to the municipal council by the Ministry of Economic Development.

The government’s plan to identify favorite tourist destinations and develop tourist zones would continue further with new vigor with the opening of the Hikkaduwa Marine National Park. Right initiative at the right moment would assure that Sri Lanka will soon be a leading tourism destination in the international arena. 

Officials from Sri Lanka Tourism, Wildlife department and urban council of Hikkaduwa were also among the guests present at this

Commercial hot air balloon flights in Colombo city today

(Colombo, Lankapuvath) – The launch of the first historic hot air balloon flight in Colombo is scheduled take place early hours of today (15).
The Ministry of Tourism said it will coincide with the 228th anniversary of that history making venture between two brothers (Joseph & Jacque Montgolfier) back 1793 when the 1st manned balloon flight in was launched from Paris- France.

In keeping with the rapid country wide developments and high optimism in tourism another major milestone is being reached for Colombo and Sri Lanka with our long awaited broadcast that for the 1st time in history Commercial Hot Air Balloon Flights will grace the skies of the Capital City, commencing as early as November 2011.

Adventure Asia as pioneers of commercial hot air ballooning in Sri Lanka, launched its first flight in Dambulla on the 24th Feb 2003 and has operated successfully for the past eight years having flown hundreds of flights and thousands of passengers. The long awaited moment has now arrived where the people of Colombo can now look to the skies and see the giant colorful shapes of balloons drifting across the airways delivering a most important message that peace & progress has again blossomed in the Capital City.

Ballooning in the big cities of the world is a key attraction to tourists and an exciting highlight to a vacation in looking for that unique experience – that experience has been sadly missed to date but now this tranquil but vibrant adventure of travelling aloft and seeing the city as no other form of aviation can deliver, other than being a bird, is ready to transfix the community and tourists.

Sri Lanka to open sea plane landing facility near airport next month

Sri Lanka is expediting the work on building a sea plane landing facility in Seeduwa Dadugam Oya near the country's international airport in Katunayake. The project to set up the facility for the convenience of the incoming tourists is jointly carried out by the Tourism authority of the ministry of Economic Development and the Provincial Road Development Authority.
The facility will have an access road and a terminal facility to take the tourists arriving in the country directly from the airport to their desired resorts elsewhere in the country.
The passengers to and from the Katunayake international airport can embark and disembark from the facility.
The Minister of Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa, who visited the site Tuesday to inspect the progress of the facility, has instructed authorities to expedite the work to be able to make use of the service by first week of April.
The demand for sea plane facility for internal tourism from the inbound tourists is on the increase, the Ministry says.
Sri Lanka which had nearly 900,000 tourist arrivals in 2011 expects a surge of more tourists exceeding one million tourists this year.
"Sri Lanka is famed for its hospitality among tourists. Therefore we should create more and more facilities for the wellbeing of visiting tourist," the Minister has said.
Minister Felix Perera, Western Provincial Minister Nimal Lansa and the Parliamentarian Sudharsani Fernandopulle have accompanied the Minister during the inspection tour.

Sri Lanka Tourism opens Tourist Information Kiosks

The Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau under The Ministry of Economic Development today together with Intelo Networks (Pvt) Ltd have tied up in a joint project to establish a network of Digital Tourist Information Kiosks (TIK) to provide information required by tourists.
The first Official Tourist Information Kiosks (TIK) were declared open to the visitors by the Minister of Civil Aviation, Priyankara Jayaratna today at Bandaranayake International Airport (BIA) with the participation of Rumy Jauffer , Managing Director of Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau. The TIK provides information via the interactive touch screen in an accurate, trustworthy and timely manner. This unit will initially accommodate 10 languages: Sinhalese, Tamil, English, German, Japanese, Dutch, Chinese, Arabic, Russian and Italian.
Tourists will be able to gain more information about Sri Lanka by viewing the available video content. Apart from providing necessary information to tourists this will facilitate to earn extra revenue per tourist visiting the country by way of providing easy access to the products and services listed in the kiosk. TIK is a technology driven Digital Information Network (Display information through electronic Touch screens and LCDs) that provides precise exposure to tourism industry, excellent returns to beneficiaries of tourism and brand awareness to consumers.
The project will see positioning more units in key locations In and around the country such as Tourists Information Centers of SLTPB, Business Centers, Shopping Malls, Selected Hotels and places with high Tourist foot fall. The entire business network is automated requiring minimum human interference. These unique and attractive Kiosks (TIK) introduced first time to Sri Lanka, have two screens to be seen in one unit.
The Touch-screen that can be easily accessed by anyone and it will help to browse through the tourist related information and the products and services available according to their requirement. While the 32” LCD screen attached to it on top will play general tourist related information and documentaries.