Rare treat for 1 mln public workers from SriLankan

Sri Lankan public servants, who enjoy a host of benefits including tax-free wages, free railway passes and for some duty free cars, are in for another bonanza – discounted travel on SriLankan Airlines.

More than a million workers and their families (totalling at least 2-3 million people) will be entitled to 25 percent discount on economy class to any destination. SriLankan Airlines said it was offering this concessional air travel in a bid to facilitate and encourage overseas leisure travel among Sri Lanka’s public servants and to expand its market base.

“All government employees who would like to take a personal trip overseas are eligible to get a 25 % discount on economy class return market fares on SriLankan Airlines’ flights to any destination in its route network. This offer is valid year round for government servants, their spouses and dependent children under 21 years of age,” the airline said.

SriLankan Holidays, which is the leisure arm of the national carrier is also offering a 25% discount to the public sector employees and their immediate families, on the Mega 999 packages (2nights/3 days) to Delhi, Bombay, Goa, Hyderabad and Chennai, giving an opportunity to visit exotic locations in India.

“This is a unique offer from the national carrier, to support the public sector and to encourage the employees and their families to travel overseas,” said Fayaz Thaha, Country Manager Sri Lanka, according to a SriLankan statement.