About Tikalanka Tours

How we started…

Tikalanka Tours developed from JB Pathi Tours, which started independent tours of Sri Lanka in 2000. With an increasing number of foreign tourists choosing to travel to Sri Lanka, JB Pathi Tours was encouraged to expand its business with the launch of the online tour operator, Tikalanka Tours, in 2004. Since then, Tikalanka Tours has extended its interests to Maldives.

Who we are…

Pathi (S.G. Pathirana) was born and brought up in the south of the island but has made Kandy his home for more than 20 years. Pathi started as a tour driver/guide in 1997 and he is a founding partner of Tikalanka Tours. Married to Suba and with two children, Mahesh and Dihini, Pathi enjoys nothing more than showing foreign visitors his beautiful country. Pathi holds a coveted National Guide Lecturers Licence accredited by the Sri Lanka Tourist Board and runs a local homestay in Kandy, where you can experience traditional Sri Lankan family life and learn how to prepare and eat local delicacies! For more information, please visit Hanthana House.

After careers in biomedical research and pharmaceutical marketing, interspersed with extensive world travel over many years, particularly in India and South-East Asia, John Beswetherick met Pathi whilst travelling in Sri Lanka in 1999. Immediately becoming close friends, John and Pathi decided to go into business together as JB Pathi Tours, buying a minibus and starting tours of the island in February 2000. Since then, John has been a regular feature in Sri Lanka, encouraging family and friends to experience the delights the island has to offer while developing the business into Tikalanka Tours, with support from his architect wife, Tracey, a co-director.

…and what we do best

Tikalanka Tours is an independent, fully licensed (ATOL 6425) and fully bonded tour operator run by a successful British/Sri Lankan partnership. Our extensive knowledge of the island and our experience of running a variety of tours in Sri Lanka are complemented by our ability to organise truly tailor-made holidays, a flexibility lacking in most tour operators' itineraries.

Tikalanka Tours can offer tailor-made holidays and carefully structured introductions to Sri Lanka for couples, families or small groups of up to eight persons travelling together - young or old! All holidays include air-conditioned transport with experienced, English-speaking Sri Lanka Tourist Board-licensed chauffeur guides specially selected by Tikalanka Tours for their knowledge, professionalism and friendliness. Places to stay have been individually chosen for their ambience, service and friendliness, ensuring that you will enjoy and experience genuine Sri Lankan hospitality.

Finally, a big Thank You…

We would like to thank a few special people without whom Tikalanka Tours would not have got off the ground... and continue to prosper!

In the UK:
Michael Acord, Againsthegrain, London, for designing and developing our logo, company branding and original brochure.
Andre Hefer, AVH Services, Lichfield, for his expert business advice.
Elliott John, Deepend Design, Locks Heath, for designing and developing our excellent current brochure and much of our marketing and exhibition material.
Simon Knight, Mark C.F. Vick and Martin F. Godber, Transpeed [London] for developing the Tikalanka Tours' online tailor-made holiday planner, and for their expertise in website development and continuing technical support.
Celia Mannings, Celia Mannings Photography [Bath] for the wonderful images of Sri Lanka included in our current brochure and on our website.
Adam Norbury, Q Branch [London] for designing and developing our original website.
Adrian Rachele for the superb images of Sri Lanka included in our Photogallery online.
Lesley Schofield, All Points East [Denmead] for her very generous advice and continuing guidance on the UK travel industry - our mentor! (and great friend)
Dash Goonawardena, Vasuki Perera, Elster Jayasinghe and Anuradha Ekanayake
Paradise Travels [London] for their attentive and proactive service in providing our flights.
Siva Aravindan and Gajan Sai Mahendran SriLankan Airlines for their expert assistance and generous support from the beginning - a real pity SriLankan relocated their London office to Colombo in 2011 and all our support disappeared!

In Sri Lanka:
Michael Sansoni, Oruthota Chalets [Kandy] for his unending generosity, support and friendship from before our inception, and for his invaluable knowledge of the Sri Lankan travel industry.
Sajith Wijenayake and Tikiri Elepola Aitken Spence Travels [Colombo] for helping us start the business and their continual support throughout.
Prasanjit Perera Aitken Spence Travels [Colombo] for always finding the time when we need advice on the Sri Lankan travel industry.
Upul Attanayake and Lokkesh Ramanan, Kandy, for their computer skills and technical support as well as their valued friendship!

In Maldives:
Nuwan Dissanayaka, Ace Travels Maldives [Malé] for his ever efficient and patient support in Maldives, which is always offered with great politeness and good humour.