The Minister of Economy and Planning of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Faisal bin Alibrahim, has announced that the country’s national carrier Saudia, formally known as Saudi Arabian Airlines, would recommence flights to Sri Lanka very soon.

Announcing the matter, Saudi Minister Faisal bin Alibrahim also took into note that the resumption of flights to Sri Lanka will contribute to capturing a sizable market of affluent Saudi travelers to Sri Lanka, the Sri Lankan Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

The Minister, who was on an official visit to Sri Lanka from 26-27 November 2023 met with Foreign Minister Ali Sabry where both sides discussed the formulation of an Economic Roadmap between Saudi Arabia and Sri Lanka that would encompass cooperation in a wide range of sectors including trade and investment, power and energy, tourism, cultural interaction, digital transformation and employment opportunities, particularly in the construction sector.

The Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera, State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe, Foreign Affairs State Minister Tharaka Balasuriya and senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were also present at the meeting, it added.

The visit adds to a series of recent Ministerial engagements undertaken by both countries contributing to the enhancement of bilateral economic cooperation between Sri Lanka and Saudi Arabia, according to the Foreign Affairs Ministry.