I flew quite a few times from London to Chennai via colombo since 2001 in Srilankan.
What impressed me most is the consistent high quality service you receive on board.
Lets go step by step.
Reservation - You are better off with a private travel agent as the
srilankan website is invariably overpriced. Southal and Anand travels
in london generally quote cheaper.
Check in - No problems and generally efficient.
Boarding - Its a real pain to walk from check in to boarding gate as
srilankan are usually parked in the far end of Heathrow. I suppose they
pay less to BAA to park in the remote corner and save some money.
Punctuality - They are more likely than British airways of Virgin to held up in a queue and get delayed.
On board - That’s where they are clear winners. Srilankan hospitality,
warmth and the service is best I have seen in the 20+ international
flights I have been. Food is really delicious and they are generous
portions.
Entertainment- Though they are not as good as Jet airways, they are
comparable to the rest with few indian and tamil movies. The highlight
is the two cameras fitted in the front of the carrier to give you both
front and downward view all the time. You can’t help, but feel like a
pilot.
Price - Its a shame that one of the best airlines is running at loss
because of their domestic situation and political unrest. They are
often the cheapest if you fly from london to chennai or some parts of
south india.