Startup of Mihin Lanka at Lahore.

Monday 24th November 2014, Mihin Lanka, Sri Lanka’s national low-cost carrier recently commenced operations to Pakistan with an inaugural flight from Colombo to Lahore. The first Mihin Lanka aircraft from Sri Lanka (4RMRD A321) landed at Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore, Pakistan and an inaugural ceremony was held to commemorate the event.

The ceremony was graced by distinguished guests including H.M.B. Herath, Consul General for Sri Lanka in Karachi, Air Chief Marshall (retired) Jayalath Weerakody, High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in Pakistan, Pervez Hanif, Consul General for Sri Lanka in Lahore, Manoj Mendis, Country Manager of Mihin Lanka in Pakistan, Hemalal Thalgaswatte, a member of Mihin Lanka’s Board of Directors, Mihin Lanka, Khawaja Ali Kamal Majeed, CEO - TCB Aviation, Abdul Khaliq, Manager - Finance, TCB Aviation and Ahmed Hassan, Manager-Business Communication, TCB Aviation. Also present was local staff from the Mihin Lanka team in Lahore including Sheraz Aftab, Marketing Manager, Mihin Lanka, Azfar Hassan Khan, Manager –Sales, SriLankan Airlines, Muhammad Amir Kamyll, Manager-Sales, Mihin Lanka, Farhan Younus, Sales Manager – Cargo.

The ceremony was also attended by members of the Mihin Lanka team from Colombo including, Asanka Fernando Head of sales , Lal Perera Head of worldwide sales Srilankan Airlines Shannon Ambrose Manager Ground Operations, Ingrid Guruge, Consultant Marketing, Piuma Kanderagama, Manager HR & Admin and Geethani Wellage, Manager - Yield Management. Also in attendance from the Mihin Lanka team were Dharini Senanayake, Executive Secretary to the Chairman and CEO, Anjali Mekala, Ticket office Manager and Savin Fernando Training Executive.

The auspicious inaugural ceremony was also attended by the higher management of Gerry’s dnata, Mihin Lanka’s Ground Handling Agent in Pakistan, which is part of the Emirates Group (dnata Dubai). Gerry’s dnata team members present at the event included Shabbir Hussain, Operation Manager –Pakistan, Salman Ahmed Khan, Manager Airport Services LHE, Syed Adnan Assistant Manager- Admin, Abid Nawab, Duty Manager as well as senior officials from government departments such as Civil Aviation.