Sri Lanka Aviation

77W or 777-200 actually!

Looks like its 777-200ER as per few sources. BA reservation website is showing BOEING 777-200/300

As far as I am aware, dash 300s are not available at LGW. Please correct me if i am wrong.

You are right Banu, they only operate 772's out of LGW

Thanks, Is LGW convienient for north american passengers to take transit for CMB flight by BA?

Not really, a direct connection via LHR is still preferable.
LGW is poorly connected to North America via BA. However, there is a possibility that some budget airlines, such as JetBlue, WestJet, Norse, or Icelandair, could offer flights to LGW with good connections to BA on separate tickets. For the Sri Lankan expatriate community, this may still not be appealing due to visa requirements, baggage costs, and the inconvenience of transit, which involves going through immigration, collecting bags, and re-checking in.

Colombo Airport Schedule Flight Information - March 2026 Period : 22/03/2026 to 28/03/2026

• SriLankan Airlines to Dubai, Doha, Kuwait, Dammam are remain cancelled;
• SriLankan Ailrines have reduced the flights on Colombo - Madurai route from 6 weekly to 5 weekly;
• SriLankan Ailrines have reduced the flights on Colombo - Singapore route from 14 weekly to 10 weekly;
• SriLankan Ailrines have reduced the flights on Colombo - Trichy route from 8 weekly to 7 weekly;
• Emirates have cancelled the Dubai - Male' - Colombo route. Reduced the overall Colombo flights from 28 to 21 weekly;
• Gulf Air have cancelled the Bahrain - Male' - Colombo;
• Jazzeera Airways is currently terminated the Kuwait - Colombo flights however the flights are operating from Qaisumah - Colombo 4 weekly;
• Kuwait Airways have cancelled Kuwait - Colombo flights;
• Flydubai reduced the overall Colombo flights from 28 to 17 weekly;
• Air India have increased Delhi - Colombo flights from 14 weekly to 20 weekly;
• AirAsia have reduced the Kuala Lumpur - Colombo flights from 14 weekly to 13 weekly;
• Etihad Airways is operating B789 and A320 on Colombo route, however the over all frequency of flights reduced from 27 weekly to 13 weekly;
• AirArabia have reduced Sharjah - Colombo flights from 20 weekly to 7 weekly;
• Qatar Airways have reduced Doha - Colombo flights from 35 weekly to 21 weekly;
• Aeroflot have increased Moscow - Colombo flights from 3 weekly to 5 weekly until 28 March 2026;
• Smartwings from Warsaw to Colombo is operating with technical stops in Heraklion and Muscat;

A/L	DEST	VIA	FLTS PER WEEK INITIALLY PLANNED FOR MAR26	FLTS PER WEEK CURRENTLY OPERATING IN MAR26	FREQ VARIATION
3L	AUH	---	5	5	0
3Z	WAW	HER MCT	1	1	0
6E	BLR	---	14	14	0
6E	BOM	---	7	7	0
6E	HYD	---	6	6	0
6E	MAA	---	27	27	0
8D	DAC	---	7	7	0
8D	DXB	---	9	7	-2
8D	KUL	---	3	3	0
8D	MLE	---	9	9	0
AI	BOM	---	7	7	0
AI	DEL	---	14	20	6
AK	KUL	---	14	13	-1
CA	TFU	---	5	5	0
CX	HKG	---	7	7	0
EK	DXB	---	21	21	0
EY	AUH	---	27	13	-14
FD	DMK	---	10	10	0
FZ	DXB	---	21	14	-7
FZ	DXB	MLE	7	3	-4
G9	SHJ	---	20	7	-13
GF	BAH	MLE	8	0	-8
HM	SEZ	---	2	1	-1
J9	AQI	---	0	4	4
J9	KWI	---	11	0	-11
JD	PKX	---	1	1	0
KU	KWI	---	4	0	-4
MH	KUL	---	7	7	0
MU	KMG	---	7	6	-1
MU	PVG	---	7	7	0
OQ	CKG	---	3	3	0
OQ	MLE	---	3	3	0
OV	MCT	---	6	6	0
QR	DOH	---	35	21	-14
SQ	SIN	---	10	10	0
SU	SVO	---	3	5	2
TG	BKK	---	7	7	0
TK	IST	---	10	10	0
UL	BKK	---	14	14	0
UL	BLR	---	10	10	0
UL	BOM	---	14	14	0
UL	CAN	---	4	4	0
UL	CDG	---	3	3	0
UL	CGK	---	7	7	0
UL	COK	---	7	7	0
UL	DAC	---	7	7	0
UL	DEL	---	14	14	0
UL	DMM	---	7	0	-7
UL	DOH	---	7	0	-7
UL	DXB	---	11	0	-11
UL	FRA	---	3	3	0
UL	GAN	---	2	2	0
UL	HYD	---	5	5	0
UL	ICN	---	2	2	0
UL	IXM	---	6	5	-1
UL	KHI	---	4	4	0
UL	KTM	---	3	3	0
UL	KUL	---	14	14	0
UL	KWI	---	7	0	-7
UL	LHE	---	4	4	0
UL	LHR	---	9	9	0
UL	MAA	---	21	21	0
UL	MEL	---	7	7	0
UL	MLE	---	21	21	0
UL	NRT	---	4	4	0
UL	RUH	---	7	7	0
UL	SIN	---	14	10	-4
UL	SYD	---	4	4	0
UL	TRV	---	4	4	0
UL	TRZ	---	8	7	-1
WK	ZRH	---	2	2	0

It’s being reported that the government of Sri Lanka has initiated preliminary discussions with both Emirates and Qatar Airways, with the intent of offering Mattala Airport as an alternative hub for the foreseeable future.

SriLankan Airlines and govt finalise $175 million bond restructuring

SriLankan Airlines and the Government of Sri Lanka have completed the airline’s international bond restructuring with over 99% participation, marking a key step in the national carrier’s recovery.

Officials said the deal, involving a 16% haircut and new bonds, supports both the airline’s stability and Sri Lanka’s wider debt restructuring.

Accordingly, SriLankan Airlines Limited and the Government of Sri Lanka today announce the expiration of the Consent Solicitation, Exchange and Tender Offer related to the Company’s U.S.$175,000,000 Guaranteed Bonds due June 2024, guaranteed by the Government.

On 20 February 2026, the Airlines launched an official invitation to holders of the Existing Bonds to tender and exchange their holdings for cash and the U.S.$-denominated 4.00% amortizing PDI bonds due 2028 issued by the Government, pursuant to the agreement in principle reached on 20 November 2025 with the members of the Ad Hoc Group of Bondholders – together holding approximately 55% of the aggregate outstanding amount of the Existing Bonds.

“Following the expiration of the offer period, the Company and the Government are delighted to report a very high level of participation of over 99% of the total outstanding amount of the Existing Bonds,” a statement said.

Bondholders representing more than 97% of the outstanding amount voted in favour, resulting in all Existing Bonds being tendered and exchanged on the settlement date, it said.

SriLankan Airlines Chairman, Mr. Sarath Ganegoda, reacted to the results stating: “We are sincerely appreciative of the bondholders’ strong participation. The overall transaction results in a 16% haircut on the outstanding claim, and its successful completion marks a significant step forward that allows us to focus on the future of the Company with renewed optimism. As the flag carrier of our island nation, this important progress toward financial recovery will further strengthen our ability to support Sri Lanka’s economic prosperity.”

Secretary to the Treasury at the Ministry of Finance, Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma, issued the following statement:

“The successful completion of this transaction paves the way for the full normalization of our relations with our external partners. Having now successfully concluded restructuring agreements covering 99% of our public external debt, we extend our sincere appreciation to all stakeholders who supported Sri Lanka throughout this process. This achievement strengthens our position as we pursue our efforts to improve our credit rating.”

The settlement of the exchange and tender offer is intended to take place on 20 March 2026, subject to the relevant settlement conditions being satisfied.

https://www.adaderana.lk/news.php?nid=119966

Ex-SriLankan Airlines CEO claims Rs. 60 mn bribe was paid to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa

Ex-SriLankan Airlines CEO claims Rs. 60 mn bribe was paid to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa
The Colombo Magistrate’s Court was informed today (19) that former SriLankan Airlines CEO Kapila Chandrasena admitted in a statement to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption that Rs. 60 million received as a bribe in the 2016 Airbus deal was handed over to then-President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

According to the Commission, Chandrasena stated that the bribe was paid in three installments to Rajapaksa, with an additional Rs. 20 million allegedly given to former Civil Aviation Minister Priyankara Jayaratne.

Investigations revealed that the money was funneled through a shell company registered in Brunei under Chandrasena’s wife’s name, with funds transferred from Europe to an account in Australia.

The funds, totaling over Euro 1.45 million, were reportedly obtained from the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company as part of the scandal. Portions of the bribe money are said to have been distributed to a SriLankan Airlines director and other high-ranking officials.

Chandrasena was arrested in connection with the case, and Colombo Chief Magistrate Asanga S. Bodaragama ordered his further remand until 2 April.

The investigation continues as authorities seek to unravel the full extent of the alleged corruption.

4R-ALL & ANA are back in service but 4R-ANC & ALS are out of service from 18 Mar

Thanks for the update ! I see ABL and ALO are not active since yesterday. Are they parked or under maintenance?

I wonder why UL is not increasing flights to LHR. Is it due to shortage of aircraft or difficulties in finding slots from LHR?
I feel UL have good potential increasing more flights to Europe and Canada as crisis affecting the aviation in Mid-East.
Please share your thoughts.