A unique opportunity to see some of the world’s cricketing greats at play in their home territory is on offer from SriLankan Airlines, which has introduced dedicated short-break packages for the Tri-Nations Cup being played out in Colombo and Damulla this July and August.
The two-night packages cost from Dh2,140 per person in a twin-share room and include return economy flights from Dubai to Colombo, bed and breakfast hotel accommodation and transfers from the airport as well as to the match venues. (Extra nights cost Dh260, single room supplement is from Dh300 and match tickets are extra, at Dh60 each).
The match options between Sri Lanka, India and the West Indies are on July 30/31; August 2/3 and August 6/7, the first two for the Damulla matches with accommodation in the Hotel Sigiriya and the last date for the Colombo fixtures, staying in the Taj Samudra hotel in the capital. The finals are on August 9.
According to SriLankan CEO, Peter Hill, the new packages are part of a continuing strategy to use sport as a magnet for tourists to Sri Lanka.
“The country hosts quality cricket, golf and racing events, as well as opportunities for participation sports from diving to mountain biking, and quieter activities for those looking for relaxation,” he said.
“And, as well as giving visitors a reason to try out the Sri Lankan experience, we hope they will extend their stay to take in the mountain resorts, heritage sites and spa and shopping opportunities that abound in the island.”
SriLankan currently offers 23 weekly flights between Dubai and Colombo, including codeshare operations with Emirates, and has introduced additional services to Abu Dhabi (now flying daily), as well as increased flights to Kuwait and Dammam.
SriLankan Airlines was created in April 1998 when Air Lanka, was privatised following the establishment of a strategic partnership with Dubai-based Emirates Airline. The agreement saw Emirates take a 40 per cent shareholding in the company and undertake a 10-year management agreement, during which time SriLankan has been established as southern Asia’s preferred international carrier.
Following its transformation, SriLankan has won a string of international aviation awards including Best Airline in Central Asia from UK’s Skytrax Research for four years in a row, (2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004), underlining its new reputation as a world-class carrier.
In 2003, SriLankan was voted as having the friendliest cabin crew by Skytrax, and also won the award for Best In-flight Entertainment (for a fleet size of 20 or less) at the annual World Airline Entertainment Association’s Avion awards in the USA.
Meanwhile, the airline’s sky taxi service has revolutionised domestic air travel in Sri Lanka, offering transfers between the airport and Colombo and Kandy, Koggala, Bentota, Trincomalee, Anuradhapura and Hingurakgoda – flight times from Bandaranaika International Airport are just 30 minutes to each town except for Trincomalee, which is a 45-minute transfer. The network incorporate most major tourist sites, from the beach resorts on the west coast around Bentota and Galle (Koggala), as well as Polonnaruwa (Hingurakgoda), Anuradhapura, Kandy and Trincomalee.
