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Discover Sri Lanka & Maldives From Those Who Know It Best

Blogs from Tikalanka are designed to enhance your knowledge of Sri Lanka and Maldives and keep you up to date with recent developments. We intend to post regular features on travel, news, lifestyle and accommodation as well as guest articles from current and past customers, which will give you first-hand experience of Tikalanka, Sri Lanka and Maldives.

Category: Culture

Destinations: The Holiday & Travel Show, Olympia London, 30 January to 02 February 2020

TikaWeeks #50/2019: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 11th December 2019

Discover your next adventure at Destinations: The Holiday & Travel Show, in association with The Times and The Sunday Times, the UK’s biggest event for travel inspiration taking place at Olympia London from 30 January to 02 February 2020. Come to visit us on stand AP38 and also get your complimentary e-tickets to the Destinations: The Holiday & Travel Show courtesy of Tikalanka by quoting EXTIKA.

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Pathi holding aloft the katina cheevaraya (robe) during the early morning perahera for the Katina Pinkama ceremony, Kandy, Sri Lanka

TikaWeeks #48/2019: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 27th November 2019

I have just returned from my annual research trip to Sri Lanka, although it may be biannually from now on considering the climate crisis… On arrival on the island, it was a privilege to be invited to the Katina Pinkama ceremonies at Pathi and Suba’s house and local temple, where they had the honour of offering the special robe for the event to Nanda sadhu, their head monk and great friend of mine.

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Sun-drenched and palm-fringed golden sandy beach in Sri Lanka

TikaWeeks #43/2019: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 22nd October 2019

In October 1979, The Police released their seminal album Regatta de Blanc to critical acclaim. Included on the album was the lead single and soon-to-be global hit Message in a Bottle with a chorus beginning “I’ll send an SOS to the world”. Forty years on, we send an SOS to the world – Support Our Sri Lanka. With deals galore on offer at many of our favourite hotels until next April, it is definitely the time to visit Sri Lanka. So, come on in, the water’s lovely! Just give us a call to chat over your ideas for a holiday of a lifetime.

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Earth and Moon taken from space, with Sri Lanka clearly visible (courtesy of NASA ESA)

TikaWeeks #42/2019: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 18th October 2019

Travel pledges that encourage foreign visitors to be more sustainable and respectful to the host nation are becoming popular around the world, although some experts are sceptical because there is no current evidence to support their effectiveness. I believe that such incentives can work if all involved are committed to responsible tourism. Today, we launch our “Tika Travel Troth” – RESPECT – which aims to promote awareness of a visitor’s duty to be a responsible, respectful and sustainable guest.

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Caparisoned elephants at the Navam Maha Perahera 2019, Colombo, Sri Lanka (courtesy of dailymirror.lk)

TikaWeeks #34-2/2019: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 22nd August 2019

Since 1979, the Navam Maha Perahera in Colombo, held around the Navam full moon poya day in February, has enchanted large crowds of locals and visitors alike. The procession, steeped in age-old traditions, involves much pageantry and includes masked dancers and acrobats, regional drummers, up to 50 caparisoned elephants, fire-eaters and jugglers, and marching bands. In 2020, it takes place on 07 and 08 February. Please contact us for more details.

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A plethora of Sri Lanka's wonderful fruit and vegetables in Kandy market

TikaWeeks #26/2019: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 30th June 2019

Until there are zero emissions aircraft we will need to find other strategies to compensate for travelling long-haul… and there are many approaches on offer. Lifestyle adjustments are the obvious and definitive way of reducing your carbon footprint, and to encourage family and friends to follow suit, as well as lobbying parliament and challenging the tourist industry for change. Let’s all make this our mission in life for the sake of our planet!

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President and Prime Minister of Sri Lanka celebrating Aluth Sahal Mangalyaya in Anuradhapura (courtesy of President’s Media Division)

TikaWeeks #15/2019: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 8th April 2019

Less than a week to go until Aluth Avurudda (New Year) in the Sinhalese and Tamil communities of Sri Lanka. New Year traditionally begins at the sighting of the new moon, although, for convenience, it is now celebrated on 14 April each year. It also marks the end of the harvest season and of spring. This week’s update heralds the New Year, continues our geography series and features a news roundup.

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Typical Hill Country view, Sri Lanka

TikaWeeks #13/2019: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 30th March 2019

“Where is Tikalanka?” queried a passer-by to their companion looking at the map on our stand at the Destinations holiday and travel show… “They can’t go!” said a friend to me under their breath. The point is that, despite the internet and our globally connected lifestyle, still not everyone knows where Sri Lanka is or what delights it has to offer. This week’s update introduces a short series on Sri Lanka’s geography, continues with our new accommodation listings and reviews topical news items.

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The pink tuk-tuks of Sri Lanka empowering and protecting women (courtesy of Al Jazeera)

TikaWeeks #12/2019: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 22nd March 2019

It has been a very busy and eventful period for us since the Destinations holiday and travel show last month, with this being our peak holiday and booking season, so apologies for the radio silence. Firstly, we would like to thank everyone who visited us at Destinations, both potential customers and old friends! Things are moving fast in Sri Lanka, with many new hotels being developed and infrastructure improved, so this Sri Lanka update will try to cover what has been happening on the island over the past few months and with us as a company.

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The Wallawwa, Kotugoda, Sri Lanka

TikaWeeks #35/2018: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 2nd September 2018

Last week’s launch of the new version of our Trip Planner is hotly followed by our new online Wedding Gift List this week, which uses the same platform. Our online Wedding Gift List enables you to create your ideal honeymoon to Sri Lanka and Maldives, and the itinerary acts as a list of voucher ideas for family and friends to purchase as wedding gifts. This week’s update launches the new online Wedding Gift List, advises of the annual closure of Yala National Park, concludes the Peoples of Sri Lanka series, and suggests first- or last-stop stays in Sri Lanka.

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