SriLankan Airlines, the National Carrier of Sri Lanka and a member of the prestigious oneworld alliance, set the social media world ablaze with their Serendipity Next Door video, which drew an unprecedented record 5 million views in just 19 hours! The new video, targeting the airline’s largest market – India, featured two of Sri Lanka’s best-known celebrities – Bollywood actress Jacqueline Fernandez and cricketing superstar Kumar Sangakkara, both of whom are mega draws in India. With its record reach, the video was not only the fastest to cross a million views in Sri Lanka within 12 hours, it was also the first ever video made in Sri Lanka to reach the landmark 5-million viewer mark, giving an indication of the popularity of the spokespersons and the immense goodwill the SriLankan Airlines brand enjoys in the subcontinent and Middle East region.
Serendipity Next Door unveils the timeless beauty of Sri Lanka through the narrations of two of the most beloved Sri Lankan celebrities, Jacqueline Fernandez of Bollywood and the cricketing legend Kumar Sangakkara. Whilst Ms. Fernandez reveals to the audience the island delights one by one, Mr. Sangakkara takes the viewer through the onboard experience of the National Carrier which symbolizes all of Sri Lanka’s beauty, culture, flavors and spirit.
SriLankan Airlines, Chairman, Mr. Ashok Pathirage said, “We are extremely impressed by the response that we have received for our latest marketing communication endeavor, appealing to our Indian market. As the National Carrier, our legacy is closely knit with the ethos of portraying the best version of Sri Lanka to the world. This, we do without having the need to exaggerate, simply due to the reason that the country truly is a Paradise, and exploring it is a memorable experience to any traveler. India has always been a focus market in our network and I am certain that this will inspire more travellers to follow the trails of their favorite celebrities to explore Sri Lanka like never before.”
The story is woven around the fascinating aspects of island life, which have become vital features of the National Carrier’s award-winning service. The visual poem celebrates the cultural vibrancy and unity among the communities and the spirit of adventure that is dabbed in the heart of country’s spectacular natural beauty.
The film is an invitation to the traveler to discover and rediscover Sri Lanka, to look beyond the picture-postcard sceneries of aquamarine beaches to witness the marine marvels off the seas or hop on to a hot air balloon to be amazed by the remnants of the ancient kingdoms still standing the test of time. Topping it all up is the SriLankan experience where the inherent warmth, care and the true Sri Lankan smile that have become the trademarks of SriLankan Airlines’ experience over the decades.
SriLankan Airlines, one of the largest international carriers currently operating out of India, covers 11 major cities; Chennai, Tiruchirappalli, Trivandrum, Cochin, Madurai, Kolkata, New Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Coimbatore with over 120 flights a week. The Airline looks forward to further consolidate its presence in the region through timely service and frequency enhancements and additions of new cities in the future.