Tourism poised to kick off, keep country peaceful: Udayanga

• Daily planeloads of Russian tourists from next month

By Kelum Bandara 

Former Sri Lankan Ambassador to Russia Udayanga Weeratunga said plans are in place to bring 13 planeloads of tourists from Russia weekly starting from November 1 and one plane load from October 1 and stressed the need to keep the country free of protests and demonstrations for tourism to take off. Mr. Weeratunga told Daily Mirror that two Russian airlines - Aeroflot and Azur Air- would commence flight operations in October.

“If there are protests and demonstrations, they will get highlighted in international media. Then, tourists may not come. Therefore, I request those concerned to refrain from protests and demonstrations in the greater interests of the country,” he said.

He said there would be 13 flights a week starting from November 1. Besides, there will be a flight beginning from October 9.

“Each flight will bring about 250-300 tourists,” he said. We need to ensure steady supply of aviation fuel to Russian flights. We can keep the momentum of tourist arrivals till April, next year,” he said.

• We need to ensure steady supply of aviation fuel to Russian flights. We can keep the momentum of tourist arrivals till April, next year