SriLankan Airlines has strengthened its regional network through a new interline agreement with Island Aviation Services, operating as Maldivian (Q2), enabling passengers to seamlessly access 17 domestic destinations across the Maldives.

The arrangement allows travelers to book journeys involving both carriers under a single electronic ticket, covering inbound and outbound travel via Velana International Airport in Malé and Gan International Airport on Gan Island. 

Officials said the move will ensure a smooth end‑to‑end travel experience, particularly for leisure and business travelers seeking efficient transfers within the archipelago.

By linking SriLankan Airlines’ international network with Maldivian’s domestic operations, the agreement significantly improves access to remote and popular island destinations.

It also creates new opportunities for travel agents, tour operators, corporate planners, and individual passengers, with streamlined booking options expected to drive passenger traffic and boost sales on both the Malé and Gan routes.

SriLankan Airlines currently operates three daily flights to Velana International Airport and two weekly flights to Gan International Airport, maintaining strong connectivity to the Maldives while offering convenient onward connections to its global destinations.

This initiative underscores SriLankan Airlines’ strategy of enhancing regional partnerships to deliver greater convenience and expand travel opportunities across South Asia.

Dimuthu Tennakoon, Head of Commercial stated, “Our collaboration with Maldivian represents an important milestone in expanding our regional footprint and enhancing travel convenience for our customers. By integrating our global network with Maldivian’s domestic connectivity, we are unlocking greater access across the Maldives while creating new opportunities for growth across key commercial segments.”

Nayomi Tennakoon, Manager Maldives added, “This interline partnership with Maldivian opens access to SriLankan Airlines’ global network through both Malé and Gan Island, extending further to numerous domestic destinations. Travellers can now experience the true diversity of the Maldivian archipelago through a single, seamless itinerary.”

As SriLankan Airlines continues to expand its network and strategic initiatives, this development underscores its commitment to delivering greater convenience, connectivity, and value to passengers travelling across the region.

SriLankan Airlines connects passengers to 130 destinations across 63 countries, including codeshare partnerships, and flies to 33 main online destinations across its network. Its direct services span cities across Europe, Australia, the Middle East, the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia and the Far East. The airline operates an all-Airbus fleet, comprising state-of-the-art A330-200/300 and A320/321 aircraft fleet. (Newswire)

The post SriLankan Airlines signs interline agreement with Maldivian to boost regional connectivity appeared first on Newswire.

SriLankan Airlines has announced the temporary suspension of flights to Kuwait following the escalating military situation in the Middle East. 

The Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka confirmed that services to the Gulf state have been halted from July 20 until July 26 as a precautionary measure.

Passengers seeking further clarification can contact the airline through the instant hotline 1979 or send messages via WhatsApp to +94 11 777 1979 or +94 74 444 1979. 

Additional updates will be available on the official SriLankan Airlines website. (Newswire)

The post SriLankan Airlines suspends Kuwait flights amid Middle East tensions appeared first on Newswire.

SriLankan Airlines has issued a statement on an incident involving its Sydney‑bound flight UL606, which departed Colombo early today (12) and was forced to return to the Katunayake Airport (BIA) due to adverse weather conditions. 

Earlier today, reports stated that the flight was forced to make an emergency landing at the Katunayake Airport after it experienced a lightning strike on one of its engines shortly after departure.

Issuing a statement, the airline confirmed that the aircraft landed safely with 207 passengers and 16 crew members on board, soon after the incident.

SriLankan Airlines further said that the flight later departed at 05:51 am using a replacement aircraft and continued its journey to Sydney.

The airline emphasised that the safety and wellbeing of passengers and crew remain its highest priority, adding that it will continue to take all necessary measures to uphold the highest standards of safety across its operations. (Newswire)

The post SriLankan Airlines responds after reports of engine lightning strike on Sydney flight appeared first on Newswire.

A SriLankan Airlines flight bound for Sydney was forced to make an emergency landing at the Katunayake Airport late last night after being struck by lightning.

The airline said flight UL 606 experienced a lightning strike on one of its engines shortly after departure. As a precautionary measure, the aircraft was diverted back to Katunayake where it landed safely.

Passengers were later re‑accommodated on another aircraft and flown to Australia. The incident is reported to have caused a delay of more than five hours.

A spokesperson for SriLankan Airlines confirmed that no passengers were injured and the aircraft itself sustained no damage. (Newswire)

The post SriLankan flight makes emergency landing at BIA after lightning strike appeared first on Newswire.

SriLankan Airlines has announced strategic partnerships with Saudi Arabia’s national carrier Saudia (SV) and low‑cost airline Flynas (XY), expanding its network reach and strengthening air travel links between Sri Lanka and Saudi Arabia. 

The collaboration will provide passengers with seamless connections across multiple domestic and international destinations, enhancing convenience and accessibility while boosting demand for business, leisure and visiting‑friends‑and‑relatives traveling between the two countries. 

According to the airline, under this arrangement, Saudia provides access to seven international and thirteen domestic destinations, while Flynas contributes an additional eight international and six domestic destinations, offering passengers greater travel flexibility and improved accessibility across Saudi Arabia.

Through Saudia’s network, passengers can connect from destinations including Amman, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Cairo, Dubai, Kuwait City and Los Angeles, together with key domestic points such as Jeddah, Abha, Madinah and Tabuk, among others across Saudi Arabia. Flynas further extends the network with international services from Addis Ababa, Karachi, Giza, Tashkent and Sohag, alongside domestic connectivity from cities including Jizan, Najran, Dammam and Jeddah.

Passengers travelling from across Saudi Arabia can now connect seamlessly via Riyadh and Dammam onto SriLankan Airlines’ daily services to Colombo, with onward access to destinations throughout the airline’s international network. SriLankan Airlines currently operates daily flights from both Riyadh and Dammam to Colombo, catering to growing demand for business, leisure and visiting-friends-and-relatives (VFR) travel between the two countries.

“This partnership represents an important step in expanding SriLankan Airlines’ presence across Saudi Arabia while strengthening links to key destinations in the Middle East, Africa and North America. Working together with Saudia and Flynas enables us to offer customers smoother connections from multiple regional and international destinations into Sri Lanka and beyond,” Head of Commercial, Dimuthu Tennakoon said.

“We are delighted to partner with Saudia and Flynas to further strengthen air travel links between Saudi Arabia and Sri Lanka. This collaboration offers passengers greater convenience, expanded travel options and seamless journeys across our combined networks, while enhancing the overall travel experience through improved network integration,” Manager Saudi Arabia, Thusitha Wickramasinghe, stated, commenting on the partnership.

SriLankan Airlines connects passengers to 131 destinations across 63 countries through its own services and codeshare partnerships, while operating direct services to 34 destinations worldwide. Its network spans Europe, Australia, the Middle East, the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia and the Far East. The airline operates an all-Airbus fleet comprising state-of-the-art A330-200/300 and A320/321 aircraft. (Newswire)

The post SriLankan expands passenger connectivity across Saudi Arabia and Sri Lanka appeared first on Newswire.

Sri Lanka’s Government is expected to appoint a new Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for SriLankan Airlines soon, Aviation Minister Anura Kuranathilake said.

The Minister said interviews for the appointment of a new CEO are currently underway, with several groups already being assessed.

He noted that additional candidates are expected to face interviews before a shortlist is prepared for the final selection process.

“We hope to appoint the new CEO very soon,” he said.

Speaking on the delay in appointments, the Minister admitted that SriLankan Airlines currently operates without both a Chairman and a CEO.

He said previous proposals for the Chairman’s position had been considered but could not proceed due to various reasons.

However, he revealed that a “very good proposal” has now been received for the Chairman post.

The Minister also acknowledged that the Government had initially attempted to revive the airline while retaining full State ownership, in line with earlier remarks made by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

But he said the Government has now concluded that a different approach is required, leading to the decision to pursue a public-private partnership model for the airline. (Newswire)

The post Govt says “very good proposal” received for SriLankan Chairman post appeared first on Newswire.

Investigations into the mysterious death of former SriLankan Airlines CEO Kapila Chandrasena have revealed that no CCTV footage was recorded at either his residence or the house where he died, the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) informed the Colombo Magistrate’s Court today.

Reporting progress before Magistrate Pasan Amarasena, CCD officials said that although the residence had two vehicle entrances, CCTV checks confirmed that between May 5 and May 7, 2026, no external person entered the premises. They added that the cameras installed at both locations had not captured any footage.

Police told the court that the engineer of the company responsible for installing the CCTV systems was summoned to testify, while digital video recorder (DVR) devices from the cameras have been taken into custody and sent to the Government Analyst for examination.

Unidentified medicines found at the scene, including two types of tablets, nine strips of one and eleven strips of another, have also been referred to the Government Analyst.

The CCD further noted that telephone records between Chandrasena and domestic staff are being sought, though time constraints delayed their retrieval. Fresh affidavits will be filed to obtain the data.

During proceedings, the Magistrate questioned why two individuals who had previously stood surety for Chandrasena had not yet been called as witnesses. 

Police replied that statements had not been recorded, prompting the Magistrate to stress that witnesses must be summoned regardless, especially if they are in remand custody.

Several witnesses were produced in court today (19), but the Magistrate directed that unnecessary witnesses be released and adjourned further inquiry into the case. (Newswire)

The post CCTV DVRs, medicines to be sent for forensic examination in Kapila Chandrasena death probe appeared first on Newswire.

The Police Media Division has issued a revised statement correcting a telephone number mistakenly included in its April 23 release on a fraudulent mobile application scam linked to SriLankan Airlines.

The earlier release (D/Media/Out/649/2026) had listed 011‑7771979 among numbers linked to fraudsters posing as “Sri Lankan Airline” via WhatsApp and directing users to install a malicious app named SriLankan.apk. 

SriLankan Airlines Limited has since clarified that 011‑7771979 is its official, lawful contact number, and requested its removal from the release.

Following this request by the airline’s Chief Executive Officer, the Police Media Division re‑issued the advisory, warning the public of the ongoing scam while excluding the legitimate number.

Investigations have revealed that fraudsters use three fake websites, srilankan[.]wuozgo[.]cc, srilankan[.]vaco[.]cc, and srilankan[.]krgo[.]cc, to distribute the SriLankan.apk app, identified as a banking Trojan. Once installed, the app enables remote access to mobile devices, exposing sensitive personal data and allowing unauthorized transactions.

The scam involves obtaining One‑Time Passwords (OTPs), bank account details, and biometric authentication data to illegally transfer funds. The following numbers are linked to the fraudulent operation:

• 077‑4558361
• 074‑1142208
• 077‑5791209
• 074‑3268200

Police caution that individuals and groups continue to exploit the public with such schemes, often luring victims with promises of instant financial gain. The public is strongly urged to remain vigilant and avoid falling prey to these deceptive practices. (Newswire)

The post Police reissue fraud warning after correcting SriLankan Airlines hotline error appeared first on Newswire.

Two individuals who attempted to place bail for former SriLankan Airlines Chief Executive Officer Kapila Chandrasena, remanded in connection with the Airbus bribery scandal, were arrested on Tuesday (05), it was reported.

It is reported that according to the Police, the suspects, residents of Sanchi Arachchiwatta near the Aluthkade court complex, were taken into custody by Keselwatta Police and produced before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court.

The Magistrate ordered that the suspects be remanded until May 13.

The Court was informed that the suspects did not personally know Chandrasena but had appeared as bailers after receiving Rs. 15,000 each. 

The Police said the arrests followed a complaint by court officials after suspicious circumstances arose during the bail application. Investigations revealed that the suspects had no permanent employment or source of income. 

Colombo Additional Magistrate Lahiru Silva directed that they be remanded for further inquiries and ordered a report on how they obtained Grama Niladhari certificates for bail purposes. (Newswire)

The post Two remanded over bogus bail attempt for ex-SriLankan Airlines CEO appeared first on Newswire.

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the awarding of a new ground handling contract for SriLankan Airlines operations at Sydney Airport, Australia.

The previous contract expired on April 30, 2026. Following a limited international competitive procurement process, three bids were received. 

After evaluation, the High‑Level Standing Procurement Committee recommended Menzies Aviation Australia Pty Ltd as the substantially responsive lowest bidder.

The company has been awarded the contract at a value of AUD 8.32 million for a period of three years, commencing May 1, 2026.

The proposal was presented by the Minister of Ports, Shipping and Civil Aviation and received Cabinet approval. (Newswire)

The post Menzies Aviation awarded SriLankan Airlines Ground Handling in Sydney appeared first on Newswire.

The Colombo Magistrate’s Court today (05) ordered the release on bail of former SriLankan Airlines Chief Executive Officer Kapila Chandrasena, who had been in remand custody over allegations of accepting a US$2 million bribe during the purchase of Airbus aircraft.

Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama delivered the order, directing that Chandrasena be released on cash bail of Rs. 500,000 and three sureties of Rs. 10 million each. The Magistrate also imposed a travel ban on the suspect.

The bail application was submitted at the previous hearing on April 28 by President’s Counsel Rienzie Arsecularatne, appearing on behalf of Chandrasena. Officials representing the Bribery Commission opposed the request.

After considering submissions from both sides, the Magistrate announced the bail order this morning. (Newswire)

The post Airbus deal : Former SriLankan CEO Kapila Chandrasena granted bail appeared first on Newswire.

SriLankan Airlines is continuing to operate without permanent leadership in its top two positions, raising concerns over governance and strategic direction at a time of heightened global uncertainty driven by the Middle East crisis.

The state-owned carrier has been without a confirmed full-time Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, with interim arrangements in place instead of long-term appointments.

The Government has yet to take a decision on the Chairman position following the resignation of Sarath Ganegoda in March, while the key position of Chief Executive Officer — the most critical role responsible for the day-to-day running of the organisation — has remained unfilled on a permanent basis for more than a year, raising serious concerns.

According to the airline’s own public information pages, Dimal Arandara is listed as the current Acting Chairman, while Yasantha Dissanayake is serving as Acting Chief Executive Officer.

The CEO role has effectively been in acting capacity since March 2025, while the Chairman position has been held on an acting basis since 31 March 2026.

The leadership vacuum comes as the airline navigates complex operational and financial challenges, including volatile fuel prices, route adjustments, and shifting passenger demand linked to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

Industry analysts note that the absence of permanent leadership at both board and executive levels can affect long-term planning, investor confidence, and critical decision-making, particularly during periods of global instability.

Airlines worldwide are currently facing pressure from rising costs, airspace disruptions, and risk assessments tied to ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, which have already forced several carriers to reroute flights and review schedules.

SriLankan Airlines reported a Group loss of LKR 2,735 million for the 2024/25 financial year.

By August 2025, the airline’s accumulated losses had reached more than Rs. 632 billion, leaving it technically insolvent and placing a significant burden on taxpayers.

Observers have also raised concerns over governance, noting that prolonged uncertainty in leadership has contributed to a lack of clear strategic direction. (Newswire)

The post Over a year without CEO: SriLankan Airlines faces leadership crisis appeared first on Newswire.

SriLankan Airlines has issued a public warning over a surge in scam activities targeting passengers and potential customers.

In a statement, the airline said it has identified incidents of individuals impersonating staff through WhatsApp and direct phone calls. 

Scammers have reportedly asked recipients to install mobile applications, share their screens, or disclose sensitive financial details such as one-time passwords (OTPs), banking PINs, and credit card information.

The airline stressed that it does not contact customers via WhatsApp or make unsolicited calls for ticketing, promotions, or any other purpose. 

It further said that SriLankan Airlines will never request confidential information, such as OTPs, banking PINs, credit card details, or any confidential information, nor ask customers to share screens or install applications.

Passengers and the public are strongly advised to remain vigilant, disregard such communications, and report them to the relevant authorities. 

The airline urged customers to verify all promotions and offers only through its official website, www.srilankan.com, or verified social media channels. (Newswire)

The post SriLankan Airlines warns of escalating scam targeting passengers appeared first on Newswire.

The Colombo Magistrate’s Court has ordered the issuance of open warrants for the arrest of Shamindra Rajapaksa, son of former minister Chamal Rajapaksa and a former board member of SriLankan Airlines, and Priyanka Neomali Wijenayaka, wife of former Chairman of SriLankan Airlines, Kapila Chandrasena. 

The warrants were issued after the suspects failed to appear before the court in relation to ongoing proceedings linked to alleged bribery involving the procurement of Airbus aircraft for SriLankan Airlines.

Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama issued the warrants after considering a request made by the Bribery Commission.

The Magistrate also ordered that this directive be sent to all airports in Sri Lanka, instructing the Controller of Immigration and Emigration to arrest the suspects if they arrive in the country and to inform the Bribery Commission accordingly.

On March 12, Former SriLankan Airlines CEO Kapila Chandrasena was arrested by the Bribery Commission over the alleged acceptance of a USD 2 million bribe linked to the Airbus aircraft deal. (Newswire)

The post Court orders arrest of Shamindra Rajapaksa, Priyanka in Airbus bribery case appeared first on Newswire.

SriLankan Airlines has announced the cancellation of flights UL231 and UL232, operating between Colombo and Dubai, from March 21 to 24, 2026.

In a statement, the airline advised passengers to regularly check flight status updates via its official website and social media channels.

Passengers requiring assistance have been requested to contact the SriLankan Airlines Global Contact Centre on 1979 (within Sri Lanka) or +94 11 777 1979 (international), their nearest airline office, or the travel agent through whom tickets were purchased.

SriLankan Airlines expressed regret over the inconvenience caused and thanked passengers for their patience and understanding, noting that further updates will be provided in due course. (Newswire)

The post SriLankan Airlines cancels two Colombo–Dubai flights appeared first on Newswire.

SriLankan Airlines has announced it will operate an additional flight between Colombo and London on Sunday, 8 March 2026, to assist passengers affected by cancellations caused by the situation in the Middle East.

Flight UL1205 will depart Colombo at 06:50 hrs on Sunday and arrive in London at 13:10 hrs. The return service, UL1206, will leave London at 15:05 hrs the same day and reach Colombo at 06:55 hrs the following morning (09).

The airline said it continues to monitor developments and is planning further flights on select routes to support passengers whose travel plans have been disrupted.

Passengers seeking more information can contact 1979 (within Sri Lanka), +94 11 777 1979 (international), WhatsApp +94 74 444 1979 (chat only), their travel agent, visit www.srilankan.com, or follow SriLankan Airlines on social media. (Newswire)

The post SriLankan Airlines to operate extra Colombo–London flight on Sunday appeared first on Newswire.

SriLankan Airlines has announced that several flights that were scheduled to operate today (03 March) have been cancelled as airspace in certain parts of the Middle East continues to remain closed due to the ongoing conflict.

The cancelled flights are as follows;

“We sincerely appreciate our passengers’ understanding and patience as these cancellations are implemented in the interest of their safety and well-being,” the national carrier said in a statement.

The airline further advises passengers to contact: 1979 (within Sri Lanka); +94 11 777 1979 (international); WhatsApp +94 74 444 1979 (chat only); their travel agent; or visit www.srilankan.com for further information. (Newswire)

The post Notice from SriLankan Airlines on Middle East flight operations appeared first on Newswire.

The Official Creditor Committee (OCC) has formally granted a “no objection” clearance, allowing Sri Lanka to move forward with its proposed settlement arrangements for foreign borrowings guaranteed by the government for SriLankan Airlines.

Announcing the development, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance Harshana Suriyapperuma said Sri Lanka has kept markets informed through the Singapore Exchange as part of compliance requirements. 

“We have indicated certain arrangements in principle. Agreements and arrangements in terms of sharing information, etc. We are very grateful and happy to inform that OCC has conveyed their position of no objection, supporting Sri Lanka during this difficult time,” he stated.

The clearance, which follows advice from legal experts, marks a significant milestone in the restructuring process. 

Sri Lanka has already restructured over 90% of its debt obligations, with officials noting that the remaining steps are expected to be procedural. 

“With the support of all parties involved, we should be able to complete them within a short period,” Suriyapperuma added. (Newswire)

The post OCC grants ‘No Objection’ clearance for debt deal on SriLankan Airlines loans appeared first on Newswire.

SriLankan Airlines has advised passengers booked to travel today (28) to check the latest flight status before proceeding to the Katunayake Airport. 

Flight status can be checked via www.srilankan.com or via the hotline 1979 (within Sri Lanka) or +94117 771979 (international).

Meanwhile, it is reported that the Katunayake Airport is experiencing delays in both arriving and departing flights due to adverse weather in Sri Lanka. 

According to the Airport Duty Manager, several aircraft have been diverted to Kochi, Trivandrum, and Mattala. (Newswire)

The post Extreme weather : Update from SriLankan Airlines appeared first on Newswire.

SriLankan Airlines’ Airport and Ground Services Division, the exclusive ground handling provider at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), has launched a self-check-in service for passengers of partner airlines. 

According to the Airline, the initiative comes ahead of the upcoming winter travel peak, during which Sri Lanka is expected to welcome over 300,000 tourists in December alone.

The initiative, made possible by the airline’s IT team, follows the installation of 20 new self-check-in kiosks at the departure terminal last month, bringing the total to 28 and boosting airport efficiency and the overall passenger experience in line with Sri Lanka’s tourism development efforts. 

Since its launch in 2023, the self-check-in kiosk facility has seen a strong uptake, with an increasing number of travellers opting for self-service over traditional counters. Currently, 15% of SriLankan’s passengers flying out of BIA use the kiosks, helping ease congestion at the departure terminal. The facility enables passengers to bypass queues and complete their check-in independently by selecting seats, printing boarding passes and generating bag tags in just a few simple steps.  

Deepal Pallegangoda, Head of Airport and Ground Services of SriLankan Airlines, stated, “We are thrilled to offer the self-check-in option to our customer airlines, whose passengers account for around 60% of all passengers we handle. Our aim is to create a seamless travel experience for all passengers checking out of Colombo, which averages over 300,000 each month. Our enhanced self-check-in facilities will further support the airport’s capacity enhancement efforts, while reaffirming SriLankan Airlines’ prominent position in advancing digital airport solutions in the region. Singapore Airlines is set to be the first foreign carrier to adopt the self-check-in kiosk facility for its passengers flying from Colombo, and we hope to see more airlines come on board soon.” 

On any given day, thousands of inbound, outbound and transit passengers pass through BIA, with SriLankan Airport and Ground Services serving as their primary touchpoint. As these numbers continue to grow, the airline said it is fully geared to accommodate the anticipated surge in travellers during the winter season through digitalisation. (Newswire)

The post SriLankan Airlines launches self-check-in for partner airlines at BIA appeared first on Newswire.