The airline said in a statement the new 10-hour flight would help Sri Lanka attract more Italian visitors to the island whose tourist industry has suffered because of the violence and uncertainty generated by the ethnic war.
"This service will be extremely beneficial to the large population of Sri Lankans in Italy, and also for pilgrimages to Rome by Sri Lanka's Catholic community," said Kaushal Seneviratne, the airline's Regional Manager UK, Europe, & Americas.
Sri Lankan Airlines and the tourism promotion agency, Sri Lanka Tourism, are trying to bring increased numbers of Italian tourists to Sri Lanka, which has traditionally been a popular destination among European tourists.
"The service will be particularly convenient for Italians travelling to the sunny resorts in the Maldives," the statement also said.
Italy is the largest country of origin of tourists to th