Rohana Perera - Head of Commercial, Mihin Lanka


Mihin Lanka will recommence flight operations to Malé in the Maldives from 12 November 2015 onwards. Mihin Lanka has added Malé to its route network, to help foster stronger trade and cultural ties between Sri Lanka and the Maldives and provide greater connectivity throughout the region.  A total of three weekly flights will be introduced and will operate every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from Bandaranaike International Airport. 

Malé is an important destination in Asia and also connects travellers and expatriate workers to other destinations in the region such as Bangladesh and India. The Maldives is well known for its pristine beaches and its tourism industry has undergone immense development over the years, additionally the Maldives has become renowned for offering many diverse trade and business opportunities. Malé is situated on the southern edge of the north Malé Atoll, surrounded by clear turquoise waters. The city remains the centre of bustling activity and is the commercial, economic and trade hub of the country. The new flight schedule will also help support Sri Lanka’s medical tourism industry and will make it easier for Maldivians to visit Sri Lanka to receive world-class medical treatment.  The reintroduction of flights will also make it easier for Maldivian travellers to visit Sri Lanka for business and leisure

Commenting on the addition of Malé to Mihin Lanka’s route network, Rohana Perera – Head of Commercial, Mihin Lanka stated, “Mihin Lanka is very proud to recommence our operations to Malé  and add yet another SAARC destination to our network. Sri Lanka is home to a growing community of Maldivians and many Sri Lankans also live and work in the Maldives. Additionally, many expatriate workers from countries such as Bangladesh and India reside in the Maldives and also need access to affordable flights to and from Malé. By reintroducing flights between Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Mihin Lanka is playing an important role in strengthening connectivity throughout the region and is also supporting the development of strong cultural and trade ties between both nations.” 

Not only is Malé popular for its beautiful resorts and hotels, it also has a rich historical, cultural and traditional heritage. Ancient royal dynasties once ruled the city which was formerly known as Mahal. Malé was then remodelled after the abolishment of the monarchy and has today evolved into a thriving and dynamic island capital. The city is home to an array of attractions including museums, markets, mosques and restaurants which are well known for their authentic Maldivian cuisine and extravagant seafood dishes.  

Since its launch in 2007, Mihin Lanka has come a long way, becoming one of the region’s most admired travel brands. In 2015, Mihin Lanka was ranked by Skytrax as the third best low-cost airline in Central Asia and India. The Skytrax Awards programme established in 1999, surveys 18.9 million airline passengers in 110 countries and bases its rankings on product quality and staff service standards. Mihin Lanka plays a crucial role in supporting regional connectivity, and recently enhanced its offering by introducing its new Business Class service. Mihin Lanka services corporate, business, pilgrim, and leisure travellers, by providing convenient direct flights to key destinations across the Indian Subcontinent, Asia and the Middle East. These destinations include Dhaka in Bangladesh and Jakarta in Indonesia as well as Madurai, Kolkata, Gaya and Varanasi in India. The airline also flies to Bahrain and Muscat in the Middle East. Mihin Lanka also flies to Lahore in Pakistan and Mahé in the Seychelles and will commence flights to Malé in the Maldives shortly as well.  Mihin Lanka also offers connectivity to a further 20 destinations with its code share partner Sri Lankan Airlines.

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