Sri Lanka is planning to open direct flights to China commencing in June, Sri Lankan Tourist Board Chairman Uaya Nanayakkara said Thursday night.

Nanayakkara told reporters that initially there will be three flights each week to link the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo and Chinese capital Beijing.

He noted that China and Sri Lanka have excellent cultural, political and trade relationship among others.

"Tourism relationship is a new relationship that has been established from the time Sri Lanka has been accepted as a preferred destination for the Chinese tourists," he said.

During 2004, Sri Lanka recorded a 25.3 percent increase of Chinese tourists coming to Sri Lanka against the figures of 2003.

Currently China runs among the first 10 tourist arrivals into the Indian Ocean island country, said Nanayakkara, adding that the opening of direct flights would further promote the tourism relationship between the two countries.

Tourism is the fourth largest foreign exchange earner for Sri Lanka, accounting for about 5 percent of its Gross Domestic Product.

The two countries signed a memorandum of understanding on tourism in November 2003, enabling Chinese citizens to take organized tours to the country.

Up to now, tourists have to change flights in Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok or Singapore, and the opening of direct flights would save time and provide more easy accesses for them.

(Xinhua News Agency March 31, 2005)