Kerala signs MoU with Sri Lankan Airlines

Kochi, Sep 29 (UNI) The Kerala Government today signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Sri Lankan Airlines, the largest foreign carrier operating in India, to promote the state as a shopping destination.

The MoU was signed at the ongoing Kerala Travel Mart here by Director, Kerala Tourism, B Suman and Mr Manoj Gunawardena, Head of Worldwide Passenger Sales, Sri Lankan Airlines, in the presence of Principal Secretary, Tourism, E K Bharat Bhushan.

Under the agreement, the tourism department has announced a special bonanza for passengers flying Sri Lankan Airlines to Kerala between October 2006 and March 2007. Under this, the passengers would be entitled to discounts on shopping, dining and therapeutic packages across the state.

Describing the airline as an important player in the growth of tourism in India, Mr Suman said that the department of tourism was happy to tie up with it for the worldwide promotion of Kerala as a tourist destination.

Mr Gunawardena said that Sri Lankan Airlines, which presently has 31 flights a week to India, will increase the number to 86 flights a week to ten destinations. New twice-a-week flights would be launched to Goa on October 30. Other destinations include Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Tiruchirapalli, Delhi amd Mumbai.

UNI ARC VV RA ND1502