Bullish on India, SriLankan Airlines launches Ramayana Trail package to attract more tourists

SriLankan Airlines views India as a key market with vast growth potentials and plans to expand its flight operations to the country while attracting more tourists. A major initiative in this front is the introduction of the Ramayana Trail package, which is aimed at promoting religious tourism by connecting visitors to 20 locations in Sri Lanka that are associated with the Ramayana.

Richard Nuttall, CEO of SriLankan Airlines, shared that the number of Indian tourists visiting Sri Lanka has shown impressive growth this year, though it is still below pre-Covid levels. He made these remarks during an event in Colombo on November 23, while launching the Ramayana Trail package, which was attended by Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to India, Kshenuka Senewiratne.

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The Ramayana Trail package offers travellers the chance to visit iconic sites such as the Seetha Amman Temple, where Sita is believed to have prayed during her captivity, and Rumassala Hill, where a piece of the Himalayas is said to have been dropped by Hanuman. These sites, among others on the trail, allow visitors to connect with their spiritual heritage and experience the rich cultural legacy of Sri Lanka.

As of October 2024, Indian tourists accounted for nearly 20% of all visitors arriving in Sri Lanka. Nuttall emphasised that the airline is focusing on revitalising and enhancing tourism from India, noting that the Ramayana Trail is part of their strategy to offer something unique and engaging to religious travellers.

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Currently, SriLankan Airlines operates 88 flights per week to nine Indian cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kochi, Trivandrum, Chennai, Trichy, and Madurai. Nuttall expressed that the airline sees India as a region of “enormous growth and opportunities” and aims to increase its presence by enhancing flight frequencies and providing more convenient flight timings. The airline is also exploring the possibility of adding more destinations in India in the future.

Kshenuka Senewiratne elaborated on the cultural significance of the Ramayana, describing it as more than just a story—it’s a rich tapestry of culture, spirituality, and heritage that has for centuries inspired and strengthened the ties between India and Sri Lanka. The Ramayana, she noted, has always been central to people-to-people connections between the two nations, reinforcing shared values and traditions.