Keeping up with its aggressive campaign to promote Sri Lanka as a tourism destination, SriLankan Airlines will sponsor Raid Amazones for second year running.

SriLankan Airlines is all set to usher in Raid Amazones, the only itinerant women’s adventure race in the world, to Sri Lanka for the second year running as the Presenting Partner.

According to a press statement, Raid Amazones will hit the fabled streets of the Sri Lankan hill capital, Kandy, from March 19-29 with the participation of over 250 female athletes. The statement adds that SriLankan Airlines is stepping up its efforts toward restoring the country’s tourism industry, in part by drawing major international events that help showcase the island’s appeal to diverse travel interests in the global arena.

Raid Amazones is a coveted annual destination adventure event originating from France, which features female athletes competing their way through a range of challenges such as orienteering, mountain biking, canoeing, riding, running and archery. The statement says that Sri Lanka was chosen over rival destinations by the event’s founders due to the unparalleled warmth of its people and support on ground to pull off a successful event. ‘‘Their decision is also down to the airline’s tireless marketing efforts to secure the popular trail on successive occasions for Sri Lanka in its hour of need for international tourism support,’’ says the statement.

The statement adds that during the 21st edition of the trail, the participants will be able to connect with a potpourri of natural and historical highlights as they trek through the Kandyan plateau in Central Sri Lanka. Their journey, though, would begin from the moment that they step onboard SriLankan Airlines to fly from Paris to Colombo, on an aircraft with custom livery dedicated to Raid Amazones 2023. SriLankan Airlines, together with Connaissance de Ceylan, the official ground handling partner of the event, will go all out to ensure that the French group experiences the best in Sri Lankan hospitality.

“My experience in Sri Lanka with the 20th Raid Amazones and the excellent feedback received by the participants last year convinced me to hold the 21st edition of Raid Amazones back-to-back in beautiful Sri Lanka. This would not have been possible without SriLankan Airlines and other partners. I made a promise to come back to Sri Lanka again, as I felt this is the best time to show the world how safe and authentic Sri Lanka is,” says Alexandre Debanne, President and Co-Founder of Raid Amazones.

“We are thrilled to welcome the participants of Raid Amazones 2023 to Sri Lanka once again. I am certain that every contestant will find their adventure in Sri Lanka, and hope that they return to their homeland with amazing memories that encourage other adventurers to visit and explore Sri Lanka. At the core of our mission at SriLankan Airlines is not just a desire to expand as an airline, but to take the country forward, and this is furthered in no small measure by partnering with international events,” says Ashok Pathirage, Chairman of SriLankan Airlines.

“SriLankan Airlines definitely spares no effort when it comes to shining a worldwide spotlight on Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka has something for every adventure traveller and that is the message that we want to share with the world by teaming with Raid Amazones this year too. We believe in fostering long-term partnerships that bring dividends in the form of continued opportunities to market the airline and country and look forward to many more years of collaboration with Raid Amazones,” says Richard Nuttall, Chief Executive Officer, SriLankan Airlines.

SriLankan Airlines partnered with Raid Amazones in 2022 soon after recommencing operations to Paris. The airline and Sri Lanka are likely to gain over EUR 10 million worth of publicity globally from the 21st edition this year. The anticipated media coverage will especially help create more awareness of Sri Lanka as an adventure travel hotspot in France and the rest of Europe, where Raid Amazones is sought-after, and attract adventure-seekers. For SriLankan Airlines, that is the ultimate goal.