SriLankan Airlines received the highest number of awards of any single company at the Second Annual Presidential Awards for Travel & Tourism, winning three of the major categories that were presented.

Sri Lanka’s National Carrier won the categories of "Airline of the Year", "Outbound Tour Operator", and "Tourism Education & Training Effort".

The Presidential Awards for Travel & Tourism are the country’s highest annual accolades to organisations and individuals who have excelled in the development of tourism in Sri Lanka, and whose outstanding contributions play a significant role in the success of the tourism industry. It is conducted by the Ministry of Tourism and Sri Lanka Tourism.

Nishanta Wickremasinghe, Acting Chairman of SriLankan Airlines, said: "SriLankan Airlines has traditionally been a pioneer in many aspects of the country’s tourism industry, and we are delighted to win these accolades for our efforts. The National Carrier has always been a pillar of strength which the entire country relies upon, and this is especially so of the tourism industry."

SriLankan was chosen as Airline of the Year for its overall contribution to the country’s tourism industry. Its leisure arm SriLankan Holidays won the category of Outbound Tour Operator for its work in making overseas travel affordable and convenient to Sri Lankan travellers. The International Aviation Academy, the airline’s training wing, took honours for its work in providing comprehensive training in various aspects of civil aviation and tourism.

Manoj Gunawardena, CEO of SriLankan, said: "The awards showcase the strength and the diversity of SriLankan Airlines; SriLankan is not just an airline, but has diverse businesses in inbound and outbound travel, airline training, and many more areas."

SriLankan Holidays promises travellers a ‘World of Memories’ with all-inclusive package tours in more than 30 cities in South Asia, Southeast Asia, the Far East, Middle East, and Europe. It has evolved in recent years to become one of the country’s largest players in both the inbound and outbound tourism industries.