The Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Türkiye, Niluka Kadurugamuwa met with the Chief Executive Officer of the Turkish Airlines, Ahmet Olmuştur at the Airlines’ headquarters in Istanbul on 17 June 2026. 

During the meeting, the Ambassador appreciated Turkish Airlines’ continued and committed support to Sri Lanka and its contribution to facilitating tourism, business travel, air cargo, and commercial exchanges between the two countries and from beyond. The Ambassador also commended the airline for maintaining uninterrupted services between Istanbul – Colombo route during the recent challenges emanating from the situation in the Middle-East, thus providing an opening for Sri Lanka to connect with the western hemisphere. 

The discussion also focused on strengthening cooperation to increase tourist arrivals in Sri Lanka through the extensive global network of the Airlines and opportunities for joint promotional initiatives with Sri Lankan tourism authorities, including destination marketing campaigns, familiarization tours for travel agents and media representatives, and other promotional activities.

The meeting also covered prospects for expanding passenger flight frequencies, enhancing cargo capacity to support growing bilateral trade, and fostering closer collaboration between Turkish Airlines and Sri Lanka’s aviation sector.

The CEO and the officials of the Turkish Airlines reaffirmed their continuous commitment to further strengthening air connectivity by increasing flight frequency upon adding new equipment to their fleet and undertook to contribute to enhancing the trade, tourism, and cultural cooperation between Sri Lanka and Türkiye for the mutual benefit of both countries.

The Ambassador was accompanied to the meeting by First Secretary (Commercial) of the Embassy Dilanga Hettiarachchi and Sri Lanka’s Honorary Consul in Istanbul Dr. Aydın Özü.

Embassy of Sri Lanka
Ankara

19 June 2026