Sri Lanka airport gets Emirates premium lounge

June 16, 2012 (LBO) – Dubai’s Emirates Airlines opened a new 200 million rupee premium lounge at Sri Lanka’s main airport, catering to scores of wealthy travellers who use Colombo as a transit hub or as a growing upmarket tourist destination, officials said. International hotel chains like the Sheraton and Shangri-La have signed up to build hotels in key locations, while the government takes the initiative to develop tourism-related infrastructure.

Clark said upgrading Sri Lanka’s tourism product helps to attract more affluent segments.

"The MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) traffic is also increasing and the country is attracting the attention of investors from many parts of the world," he said.

Emirates began services to Sri Lanka in April 1986, with Colombo becoming the fourth destination for the network. In 1988, the airline acquired a stake and took management control of state-run SriLankan Airlines for 10-years.

The airline now flies to 123 destinations, linking Sri Lanka to 72 countries on six continents. Emirates currently operates28 flights a week from Colombo, 14 direct to Dubai, seven via Male to Dubai and daily flights to Singapore.

It offers first, business and economy class services to and fro