SriLankan Airlines and HSBC team up for International Golf Tournament

SriLankan Airlines teamed up with HSBC recently to launch the airline’s second international golf tournament, “SriLankan Strokes”, in an effort to promote sports tourism in Sri Lanka.

The inaugural tournament will be held from 17-19 March 2006 at the picturesque Nuwara Eliya Golf Club, located among the swirling mists and tea plantations in the mountainous resort town of Nuwara Eliya, also known as “Little England”.

SriLankan is offering discounted airfares for participants, and packages that include airport pickup and drop-off, accommodation, transport to Nuwara Eliya by coach, green fees, caddy fees and shuttle service from hotels to the golf course.

Participants can also choose to travel via SriLankan Air Taxi – the airline’s domestic arm. A ride on the amphibious SriLankan Air Taxi allows passengers to enjoy a panoramic view of the island as they cruise over jungles and gushing waterfalls in a Turbo Otter aircraft and land on Lake Gregory in the centre of Nuwara Eliya.

In addition, the organisers have planned a variety of day programmes - ranging from one-day to multi-day tours - for the golfers and their companions. They include tours of Nuwara Eliya and its environs, Sri Lanka’s nearby ancient hill capital of Kandy, white water rafting, visits to the Uda Walawe National Park, cultural tours, climbs up the holy mountain of Adam’s Peak, shopping sprees in Colombo, a tea plantation tour and a trip to the spice gardens.

All ground arrangements for participants and their companions will be taken care of by Hemtours, the official ground handling agent, while the official hotels for the tournament are Grand Hotel, St. Andrews, The Heritage and the Tea Factory.

The organisers have prepared attractive prizes for this inaugural tournament. These include at least five Business Class and Economy Class return air tickets from Colombo to the Middle East, the Far East, India and Pakistan for winners of the three Men’s Groups and the two Ladies Groups.

SriLankan Strokes is the airlines’ third golf tournament, after the SriLankan Airlines Golf Classic – another international tournament – and the NEGC Golf Tournament, a local event.

Mr. David J H Griffiths, Chief Executive Officer, HSBC Sri Lanka and Maldives, said, “HSBC is pleased to sponsor SriLankan Strokes. Golf is a game enjoyed by the world over and we consider it a privilege to be associated with SriLankan Airlines in this venture. This tournament will be open to HSBC Premier customers both in Sri Lanka and abroad and we hope that this will also provide a boost to tourism in Sri Lanka.”

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