SriLankan becomes First International Airline to fly to Gan Island

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SriLankan Airlines will consolidate its positioning as the largest airline operation in the Maldives, by commencing services to Gan Island on 1 December 2016, becoming the only airline to operate international flights to Gan International Airport, with four flights per week.

Gan Island operations will facilitate visitors’ travel to any destination in the world via SriLankan Airlines’ global route network, reaching 102 destinations in 47 countries and 1,000 destinations under the oneworld alliance.

Gan is the most populated island in Addu Atoll (also known as Seenu Atoll) and is the southernmost atoll in the Maldives. SriLankan flights will depart from Gan every Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 09:05, arriving in Colombo at 11:25. Likewise, flights will depart from Colombo at 07:01 and arrive in Gan at 08:20hrs.

Crew, SriLankan Airlines. SriLankan becomes first international airline to fly to Gan Island

The commencement of services to Gan is part of the recent strategic shift by SriLankan Airlines to heighten its focus on its network in South Asia, namely India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and also in the Middle East, including destinations such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman. The airline will also intensify its focus on the Far East including Japan, China, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia. Gan is one of 11 new destinations in the Asia-Middle East region to which Sri Lanka’s national carrier is commencing services in the fourth quarter of 2016.

Crew, SriLankan Airlines. SriLankan becomes first international airline to fly to Gan Island

SriLankan provides rapid connections through Colombo to its global network, including over 100 weekly flights to 11 cities in India, and a wide range of destinations in the Far East and the Middle East. Passengers can enjoy SriLankan’s modern fleet and a service which provides passengers with comfortable seats, state of the art entertainment systems, excellent in-flight cuisine, and flight attendants famed for their warmth and caring nature.

Crew, SriLankan Airlines. SriLankan becomes first international airline to fly to Gan Island

SriLankan’s office in the Maldives is located at:

SriLankan Airlines Ltd, C/o ACE Aviation Services Maldives Pvt Ltd.
H. Thuniya Building (2nd Floor), Boduthakurufaanu Magu, Henveiru, 20066 Male,
Republic of Maldives.

It can be reached on:

Telephone: +9603333668
Fax: +9603333669
Email: [email protected]

Operating Hours: Sunday to Thursday (9:00hrs to 18:00hrs)
Saturday (9.00hrs to 15.00hrs)
Closed on Fridays

SriLankan is also part of oneworld’s network of more than 1,000 destinations in 160 countries.

Adduan Returns To His Roots to Run Equator Village Resort

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When he was 24, Mohamed Waheed of Feydhoo, Addu City, made a trip that thousands of people from his southern atoll home have made before him: he got on a boat and sailed for Malé.

The capital’s economic heft has drawn Maldivians from across the archipelago for generations – something that Malé’s rampant overcrowding can attest. Once people make the trip to Malé, they normally stay there. But bucking this trend, Waheed has returned home.

On 1 September, he was appointed as Resort Manager at Equator Village in Gan. Waheed has joined an elite club of Maldivians who have worked their way up the career ladder to the rank of resort manager – the most senior position in any hotel.

Waheed started his career as a trainee receptionist at Villingili Beach Resort in 1986 before the island was converted from a resort into a suburb island of Malé. He then held numerous positions in resorts, rising to become Front Office Manager, then Assistant Manager and finally Assistant Resort Manager at Summer Island Maldives.

Kaimoo resorts, which own both Summer Island Maldives and Equator Village, then offered Waheed his dream job: as Resort Manager back home in Addu.

Commenting on his new job, Mohamed Waheed said:

“It’s such a privilege to return to Addu as a resort manager, more than 30 years since I left home. I hope other Maldivians, who have left their homes for Malé, also think about returning to help develop and improve their home islands.

“Addu has so much potential, especially in tourism: the atoll has Maldives’ best diving and you can explore the atoll on a bicycle thanks to the link road. I’m really looking forward to managing Equator Village and building on its success.”

Commenting on the appointment, Mohamed Manih Ahmed, Managing Director of Kaimoo THS Group said:

“Mr. Waheed has been a mainstay at Summer with two decades of distinguished service, and I understand his absence would be significantly felt on the island. I offer our congratulations. I am sure he will bring the same enthusiasm, dedication and vigor he has displayed at Summer to Equator.”

Equator Village is located in Gan, an island with an interesting colonial history. From 1956 – 1976 Gan was a British Royal Air Force Base, and many British servicemen and women who served there often return to the island to visit. They nearly always stay at Equator Village.

The resort is located in what used to be the RAF Sergeant’s Mess, and the hotel’s grounds still retain a unique colonial charm, with large trees, manicured lawns and English-style flower gardens.

Addu’s appeal isn’t just history, though: the diving here is some of the best in the Maldives. The Atoll’s best dive spot is arguably a shipwreck called British Loyalty. It was a fuel tanker that was attacked by the Germans during the Second World War. The ship’s sinking was the only known attack in the Maldives for the war’s duration. The unexplored caves, all year round manta ray sighting makes Addu one of the most spectacular dive atolls in the Maldives.

Addu also allows tourists to cycle from island to island via the link road, offering them a unique opportunity to experience Maldivian towns and villages, as well as go off the beaten track and seek out deserted beaches. Addu’s “Eedhigali Kilhi”, one of the largest mangroves in the Maldives is an environmentally protected area and a beautiful area for bird watching. Equator Village offers bicycles for guests to explore the atoll.

Today, the Equator Village has 78 spacious, simple and garden view bungalows. The hotel has a restaurant, poolside bar and a large swimming pool that overlooks the ocean. A wide variety of activities are available including squash, table tennis, tennis, and live music. The Serena Spa offers a wide selection of aromatic oils and wellness packages are available to sooth your mind and body.

Former Royal Air force Contingent visits Maldives

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The Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) has welcomed 28 former members of the Royal Air Force (RAF) who arrived in Maldives today. The officials of MMPRC welcomed the group with cultural performance, Visit Maldives Year gift packs were also distributed to the members.

RAF Vets welcome cermony1The contingent is in Maldives for a reunion event to be held in Addu to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of their departure from Gan. Royal Air force Reunion event will be held in Addu from 24 -31st March 2016, series of activities has been organized as a part of the event.

RAF Vets welcome cermonyIn March 2010 many of them visited Gan for the celebrations and since then Most of them have been visiting Addu on regular basis due to their affection for the Maldives. Former RAF officials who stayed in Gan during WWII are much respected citizens of UK, being decorated war veterans and some hold prestigious positions in the private sector.

MMPRC is proud to welcome the contingent given that this Visit Maldives Year. The Visit Maldives Year 2016 will be a yearlong campaign to boost the tourism of the country, targeting a total of 1.5 million tourist arrivals during the year. A number of international and national events, competitions and awareness programs will be carried out by Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation together with the Tourism Industry to display the richness of Maldives as a destination and portray Maldives as the exotic place it is, to the world.