National carrier SriLankan Airlines recently bagged the prestigious 50 years of Tourism award by MATI, in recognition of its remarkable service for over half a century.

The award was bestowed at an event celebrating the golden jubilee of tourism in the Maldives. SriLankan was the first international commercial airline to launch operations to the Maldives under its predecessor Air Ceylon, in 1960 and has continued to break new ground since then and become the only international airline to fly passengers to multiple airports in the Maldives.

The Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI) has spearheaded the advancement of tourism in the Maldives and aimed to honour organisations and individuals that have contributed exceptionally to this purpose along the way at their golden jubilee celebration.

Recipients of awards were selected by a committee of industry experts and veterans. SriLankan Airlines Country Manager Maldives Fawzan Fareid accepted the award on behalf of the chief executive officer of the airline.

“The Maldives has always held a special place in the SriLankan Airlines’ network. As the only international airline to have been with the Maldives since its inception of commercial flying, SriLankan has witnessed and contributed to every milestone in the journey of the Maldives tourism,” said SriLankan Airlines Chief Executive Officer Richard Nuttall.

Over the years, the airline has connected many hundreds of thousands of tourists to the stunning and incomparable beaches of the Maldives. Today, SriLankan Airlines remains a key player and global favourite for travel to the Maldives.