Flag carrier of Sri Lanka, SriLankan Airlines to launch Colombo-Melbourne nonstop flights from the beginning in October, 2017.  According to a statement released by SriLankan, the inaugural service would take off from October 29, 2017. Melbourne was chosen for its first Australian destination as half of all Sri Lankans who live in Australia reside in Victoria.

“Given the number of Sri Lankans residing in and around Victoria, we fulfil a long felt need for a direct service,” stated SriLankan chief executive Captain Suren Ratwatte.

The daily flight has been scheduled an overnight service from Colombo, arriving in Melbourne in the afternoon the next day. The return flight is scheduled to takeoff from Tullamarine in early evening, for a late night arrival in Colombo.