Sri Lankan Airlines’ ad promoting the “Ramayana Trail,” a journey through locations tied to the Ramayana story, has received widespread praise online.
The five-minute advertisement features a grandmother telling the Ramayana story to her grandson. When the boy inquires about the island where Ravana took Sita after kidnapping her, the grandmother shares the tale of Ravana’s kingdom, now known as Sri Lanka. “All the places in the Ramayana are real. Today we know Lanka as Sri Lanka,” she explains, as the video shows images of Ravana’s Cave near Ella, where Sita was kept before being moved to the Ashoka Vatika in Ravana’s palace.
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Relive the epic of The Ramayana Trail
Embark on a journey through Sri Lanka’s legendary landscapes with SriLankan Holidays, offering a fully customized experience tailored just for you. Every step of your adventure is designed to bring out the grandeur and glory in the ancient… pic.twitter.com/jctUhc4JKn
— SriLankan Airlines (@flysrilankan) November 8, 2024
The video also highlights the Seetha Amman Temple, dedicated to Sita, maintained by the Indian Tamils of Sri Lanka. Additionally, it mentions the Ram Setu (Adam’s Bridge), believed to have been built by Rama’s army, connecting Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu to Sri Lanka. When the grandson asks, “Is the bridge still standing?” the grandmother replies, “Yes, you can still see it today.”
The ad also references Rumassala Hill, which is said to be a fragment of the mountain Hanuman carried from the Himalayas, where medicinal herbs unique to the area are found.
The ad quickly went viral, with X users expressing their admiration. One person praised it as “an outstanding advertisement” that would inspire many to visit Sri Lanka. Another wrote, “Such a spectacular ad. Got goosebumps watching it. Our tourism sector needs to learn from this.” A third user called it “one of the best airline advertisements,” while another remarked, “Highlighting historical sites from the Ramayana, it’s sure to spark curiosity and draw many to explore Sri Lanka’s rich heritage.”
The campaign has also sparked interest in visiting Sri Lanka, with one comment reading, “Sri Lanka will be my next big trip. When I went to Bali I was mesmerized by its hospitality, beauty, and heritage.”