SriLankan Airlines wants regional hub, War a worry

Sri Lankan Tourism Industry was badly hit by War in North & East. Colombo International Airport was attacked by the LTTE and half of the SriLankan Airlines, flag carrier of Sri Lanka, fleet was destroyed. And not long after 9/11 attacks made everyone stop flying. Thus many Opportunities in the tourism sector was lost. Ceasefire Agreement brought hostilities to an end and paved the way for a boom in the hostpitality industry.

Once the CFA was in effect both local and foreign tourist were able to visit the attractive but once God forbidden areas of North & East. The North -South link was rejuvanated and reached unprecedented levels. All this was good news for SriLankan which recorded the best year ever in 2004 with a record breaking Rs 55 billion profit.

Srilankan flies High...

SriLankan Airlines of which's 44 percent stake was bought by Emirates in 1998 had quite a few ups and downs.thoght it recorded its best year in 2004, it is adversly affected by the Tsunami catrosphe and incresingly shaky ceasefire.

But Peter Hill CEO of SriLankan Airlines remains optimistic, while pointing out that Sri Lankan's achievement in emerging as the largest overseas carrier to India and winning many international accalaimend awards, reaffirms the potential of Sri Lanka to develop into an regional hub. If Sri Lanka emerges as a regional hub SriLankan would be in a position to increase its fleet by 14 to 25. Sounding a note of caution Peter Hill stress that a break of war would put everything in jeopardy.