Its final flight from Heathrow to Colombo will depart on March 28; from that date the airline will also only offer winter flights to the Maldives.

A spokesman apologised for any inconvenience caused to customers, and confirmed that anyone affected would receive a full refund.

“The decision to suspend flights between Colombo and London has been a difficult one to make. We constantly assess all our global routes and take appropriate steps, as needed. The Colombo route is not making a profitable contribution to our business and we are unable to sustain it,” he said.

“British Airways will continue flying between London Gatwick and Male. However, the service will be operational only during the winter… to cater to the high leisure travel demand.”

The airline resumed flights to Sri Lanka in March 2013, following a 15-year hiatus. Sri Lanka has seen a sharp rise in overseas visitor numbers since its civil war ended in 2009. Just shy of 1.3 million people travelled there last year, up from one million in 2012, 850,00 in 2011, 650,000 in 2010 and just 445,000 in 2009, according to its tourist board.

The resurgence hasn't been without controversy. The Sri Lankan government was accused of bulldozing occupied, independent guesthouses to make room for new holiday resorts in 2012, while holiday accommodation built on the site of Sri Lanka's "killing fields" was last years described as "tasteless war tourism".

Once BA ends its flights, just one carrier - Sri Lankan Airlines - will offer a direct service to the country.

BA recently announced plans to resume flights from Heathrow to Kuala Lumpur on May 27, for the first time in 14 years. Routes from Gatwick to Seville, Funchal in Madeira, and Las Palmas in Gran Canaria will also be launched next year.



BA resumed flights to Sri Lanka in March 2013 (Photo: AP)

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