SriLankan Airlines opens Melbourne office

Considering Australia’s major potential in the air travel business, Sri Lanka’s national carrier, SriLankan Airlines has made its initial in-road by opening its airline office in the heart of Melbourne on June 21.

SriLankan is taking its first steps in advancing to realise a long standing need and ambition in the process of operating flights to Australia - the world’s largest island.

The office was officially opened and graced by prof. G L Peiris, Minister of External Affairs and Namal Rajapaksa, Member of Parliament. Also in attendance was SriLankan’s Chairman, Nishantha Wickremasinghe and Dillan Ariyawansa, CEO Sri Lanka Travel Inc.

Officials and representatives of Australia’s tour operators and travel agencies, particularly those in Melbourne, were also present.

“This is an important first step in our efforts to start direct flights to Australia, particularly in view of the large numbers of Sri Lankans and tourists whom we can serve on this route and beyond to our European, Middle Eastern and Indian destinations. This would also give us the opportunity to build strong partnerships to connect to serve more destinations within Australia,” said SriLankan Chairman, Nishantha Wickremasinghe.

Sri Lanka’s aviation connections with Australia date back to the early 1950s when its national carrier, then Air Ceylon flew to Sydney and Darwin.

A new air services agreement was signed between Sri Lanka and Australia in May 2007.