SriLankan Airlines, Derana, and Signal Unite to Give Children a Priceless Gift

In celebration of   World Children’s  Day  ,   SriLankan Airlines   provided a group of children with their   first-ever flying experience  . This initiative was part of the   “Derana – Signal Journey in the Sky”   program, organized jointly by   TV Derana   and   Unilever  , based on an   IdeaHell concept  .

Under this initiative,   250 children  , aged   between 12 and 15  , who were selected through a   nationwide creative competition  , were given the opportunity to participate in a   two-hour flight   aboard a   SriLankan Airlines Airbus A330-300  . During the flight, they had the chance to witness the breathtaking beauty of Sri Lanka from the sky — a truly unforgettable experience for many of them, as this was their   first time on an airplane  .

The selected children were warmly welcomed at   Bandaranaike International Airport, Katunayake  , where   airport and airline staff   introduced them to airport operations. They were shown how various procedures are carried out — from the   check-in process   to the   steps involved in boarding  , and gained a complete understanding of the   entire procedure of an international flight  .

The aircraft carrying the children took off from   Bandaranaike International Airport  , flying over some of Sri Lanka’s most iconic locations including   Colombo, Galle, Sri Pada (Adam’s Peak), Pidurutalagala, Sigiriya, Mullaitivu, Delft Island, Anuradhapura, and Negombo  , before returning to Katunayake. A   special one-hour television program  , based on the children’s experiences during the flight, was telecast on   Derana TV on October 6 .

“We believe that children’s dreams should have no limits. On World Children’s Day, joining hands with Derana and Signal to give children a chance to witness the beauty of our motherland from the skies brings us immense joy. For most of these children, this was their first-ever flight experience. We are proud to have been part of an initiative that could inspire future pilots, researchers, and leaders of tomorrow,”  said   Deepal Perera  , Manager – Corporate Communications,   SriLankan Airlines  .

“I am deeply grateful to our project partners — Signal, SriLankan Airlines, and the Airport and Aviation Services company — for their fullest cooperation in making this flight a reality. I also wish every one of these fortunate children the very best as they cherish this extraordinary experience. My heartfelt request to them is to never give up on their dreams and to pursue their goals with determination,” stated   Laksiri Wickramage  ,   Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Derana  .

“The mission of the   Signal   brand has always been to protect the smiles of Sri Lankans. We are delighted to have joined Derana and SriLankan Airlines this World Children’s Day to gift these children a memorable experience they will cherish forever. We hope this journey will inspire them to dream of a brighter future and smile even more confidently,”

said   Treshan de Soysa  ,   Brand Manager for Signal  .

Through this unique program, organized by   Derana   and   Unilever   under the   IdeaHell concept  ,   SriLankan Airlines   expressed heartfelt pride and happiness in being able to contribute to   nurturing the dreams of Sri Lanka’s talented young generation  , offering them a   timeless memory   that will inspire their futures.