JEDDAH, 30 March 2008 — With the 10-year management contract between Emirates and SriLankan Airlines coming to an end, Emirates will be terminating the code share arrangements between the two carriers. Code share arrangements between the two carriers will cease from March 31, with the expiry of the decade-long management agreement.

However, Emirates airlines will continue to serve Sri Lanka with 17 weekly flights to Colombo, connecting the country’s travelers to 100 global destinations via Dubai. And the flights will be operated using Emirates’ aircraft, a spokesman for the Dubai-based carrier said yesterday on the sidelines of a promotion with Axiom Telecom.

Following end of the its code share arrangement with Skywards, SriLankan Airlines has launched its own ‘SmiLes’ frequent flyer program effective from Tuesday. The Colombo-based carrier said that all its current Skywards members holding mileage balances would have the option of transferring their miles to the new SmiLes scheme.

Skywards has once again offered a top prize of one million Miles in its ‘Thanks a Million’ draw at the Dubai World Cup yesterday. Funds raised go to Riding for the Disabled Association of Dubai (RDAD), UNICEF and UAE Red Crescent. One million Miles is equivalent to 25 return Emirates tickets to Europe or 20 to the Far East. Two runners-up win 250,000 Miles - enough for six return tickets to Europe each.

The government of Sri Lanka has named Treasury Secretary P.B. Jayasundera as the new chairman of SriLankan Airlines. The Sri Lankan Government, which will take over the day-to-day running of the carrier starting Tuesday, holds 51.05 percent shares in the carrier.

“Emirates, holding 43.63 per cent shares, will be represented by President Tim Clark, Gary Chapman (President, Group Services and Dnata) and Nigel Hopkins (Executive vice president, services department),” SriLankan Airlines said in the statement.