Sri Lanka has been granted permission to commence charter flights to Myanmar from mid-2021, in the post-COVID-19 phase, said Regional Manager of the Sri Lankan Airlines, Mohan Meegolla, at a meeting organized by the Foreign Ministry. The meeting was chaired by the Foreign Secretary Admiral Prof, Jayanath Colombage, to discuss the possibility of establishing air connectivity with Myanmar. Participating at the meeting virtually, Sri Lanka's Ambassador to Myanmar Prof. Nalin De Silva, said that air connectivity between Sri Lanka and Myanmar has been discussed for a long time, due to the significant Buddhist cultural connectivity between both countries. He further stated that around 300 Buddhist Bhikkhus are presently studying in Sri Lanka and there are many Sri Lankan Bikkus and delegations visiting Myanmar for meditation and other religious purposes. He further said that there is immense potential for medical tourism from Myanmar. The Government of Myanmar, Tourism Associations and in particular the President of Myanmar has conveyed his keen interest in establishing air connectivity between the two destinations, he said. Assistant Director of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, Jeevana Fernando commended this as an excellent initiative and a timely act as Sri Lanka looks forward to welcome Buddhist tourists to the country, in the post COVID phase. In this regard, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau confirmed their fullest support to carry out an aggressive campaign to promote tourists from Myanmar.