Together with Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka,) SriLankan Airlines brought smiles to the faces of young Buddhist monks or Samaneras with a special guided tour of the Bandaranaike International Airport.

This event is part of the lead-up to SriLankan Airlines’ 45th anniversary on Sunday, 1st September.

Made up of monks aged five and older from the Ganewatta Purana Rajamaha Viharaya in Waskadubedda, Deldoova, Kalutara, the tour group was accompanied by several Venerable Theros, as well as volunteers from SriLankan Airlines. 

A day at the airport

During the tour, the young monks were guided through the airport where officials explained various ground operations. They also had the opportunity to board a SriLankan Airlines’ Airbus A320 parked on the tarmac, giving each young monk their first experience of both the airport environment, as well as an aircraft’s interior.

In keeping with religious traditions, the group of Samaneras and Theros were offered dana, a special form of almsgiving, and pirikara in the airport’s Silk Route Arrival Lounge. 

SriLankan Airlines staff volunteers, members of the airline’s senior management team, and senior managers from Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) were all on hand to participate during the dana ceremony.