VIPs fly in Deccan' copters for Eastern trip

Deputy Minister of Economic Development Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena along with a team from Sri Lanka Tourism flew to Arugam Bay recently to attend a coordination meeting for Pro Surf 2011. The Deputy Minister, who arrived in a helicopter belonging to Deccan Aviation was joined by Jauffer, Managing Director of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau and Dileep Mudadeniya of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority.

After landing at 10 a.m. at the Arugam Bay helipad adjoining the new bridge, the coordination meeting for Pro Surf 2011 was held between the Deputy Minister, representatives of Sri Lanka Tourism, SriLankan Airlines, Zonal Director Education, the Police, military and local government authorities.

The meeting was to educate the industry stakeholders in and around Arugam Bay about the event and resolve any logistical issues they were facing. The Deputy Minister and others were flown back to Colombo the same day. During the course of the meeting, the helicopter was used for a quick aerial survey of the area and to capture pictures of the landscape that will be used for future tourism promotion activities.

"It was important for the Minister to see for himself how with domestic aviation options, one can access even frontier destinations like Arugam Bay by using aeroplanes or helicopters, in addition to traditional road transport.

Aviation will play a leading role in opening places such as Arugam Bay to tourism and development," said Dileep Mudadeniya.

Deccan Aviation Lanka's CEO/Director Denham Schokman said "Helicopters are the preferred mode of travel for corporate transfers and our helicopters can land guests directly at the site and we have years of experience handling complex multiday flights for corporates and VIPs, Guests could get close to their destination than flying in a plane to an airport or waterdrome and then taking a drive."