Vietjet has launched a new direct air service connecting Colombo with Ho Chi Minh City, strengthening connectivity between Sri Lanka and Vietnam while creating a convenient travel link between South Asia and Southeast Asia.
The inaugural flight was marked by a vibrant ceremony attended by government officials, diplomatic representatives and aviation industry stakeholders from both countries.
Ahead of Flight VJ1875’s departure from Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City on August 18, Vietjet representatives welcomed the flight crew and passengers by presenting flowers and extending their best wishes for the inaugural journey.
The flight also highlighted a strong Sri Lankan connection, with two of the three pilots in the cockpit crew being Sri Lankan. Captain Yonmeregngna Seemon Hewage Thiwanka Silva and First Officer Randil Hashen Perera were part of the crew operating the inaugural service.
Upon arriving at Bandaranaike International Airport, the aircraft was welcomed with a traditional water cannon salute.
The celebrations continued with a Sri Lankan cultural dance at the arrival pier, followed by an official ceremony at the Silk Route Lounge. Anura Karunathilaka, Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation and Minister of Energy; Prof. Ruwan Ranasinghe, Deputy Minister of Tourism; Trinh Thi Tam, Ambassador of Vietnam to Sri Lanka and the Maldives; and Poshitha Perera, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Vietnam, joined senior representatives from Vietjet and Bandaranaike International Airport at the event.
The new Colombo–Ho Chi Minh City route operates three round-trip flights per week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, offering Sri Lankan travellers a direct and convenient connection to southern Vietnam.
The service is expected to further strengthen tourism, business and people-to-people links between Sri Lanka and Vietnam while enhancing Sri Lanka’s connectivity with the wider Southeast Asian region.
ACL Cables’ FireGuard Secures SLSI Certification for Purple Standard, Reinforcing Safety and Quality
ACL Cables PLC, Sri Lanka’s leading cable manufacturer, has secured a Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI) permit to use the SLS Certification Mark for its flagship FireGuard range of flame-retardant electrical cables.
The certification has been granted under SLS 733 Part 2:2025 – Specification for Electric Cables for Voltages up to and including 300/500V, PVC Insulated and PVC Sheathed Flame Retardant (FR) Cables. ACL Cables is the first cable manufacturer in Sri Lanka to receive certification under this standard, further reinforcing its commitment to safety and quality.
The milestone strengthens ACL’s Purple Standard, an industry benchmark established through its FireGuard range and recognised by its distinctive purple sheath. The Purple Standard has become associated with flame-retardant performance, consumer confidence and regulatory compliance in Sri Lanka.
With the SLS Certification Mark, ACL said the Purple Standard has progressed from a pioneering manufacturer-led initiative into a nationally validated benchmark for fire protection.
For more than two decades, ACL FireGuard has set a benchmark for flame-retardant cable performance in Sri Lanka. The company said it had been manufacturing FireGuard to the same level of performance for over 20 years, ahead of the formal introduction of the national standard.
FireGuard was introduced more than two decades ago as a voluntary initiative focused on improving electrical fire safety, at a time when flame-retardant cable requirements were not formally mandated or regulated. The innovation subsequently contributed to raising industry standards and influencing expectations around cable safety nationwide.
With national certification now formally recognising the standard, ACL’s distinctive purple FireGuard identity continues to represent its focus on safety, reliability and performance.
Vietjet Connects Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia with Direct Colombo–Ho Chi Minh City Service
