Tika Traveller

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: Travel tips

Buddha in samadhi, Gal Vihara, Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka

TikaWeeks #24/2019: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 16th June 2019

The Poson Festival celebrates the arrival of Buddhism to Sri Lanka in the 3rd century BC and it is held over the full moon in June (17 June this year). Poson Poya Day is one of the most important religious events of the year, particularly at pilgrimage sites such as Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Thanthirimale where devotees flock to offer prayers and alms to the Buddha. I am sure that this year’s Poson will hold more significance and be a more poignant occasion than ever.

TikaWeeks #23-3/2019: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 6th June 2019

BREAKING NEWS – The FCO travel advice has just been updated to: “change to advice against travel; the FCO no longer advise against all but essential travel to Sri Lanka”. This means that UK citizens are allowed to travel to Sri Lanka once again. If you haven’t already booked your summer holiday, please contact us as soon as possible for a holiday of a lifetime in Sri Lanka. The country and its people will welcome you with open arms and there are special discounts on offer at many hotels. So, what’s stopping you?

TikaWeeks #20-2/2019: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 18th May 2019

With travel insurance companies refusing to cover losses following holiday cancellations due to the current FCO travel advice against all but essential travel to Sri Lanka, it is even more important to consider booking a Sri Lanka holiday with a reputable and established travel company like Tikalanka. We are reimbursing in full imminent holidays or retaining deposits as credit against future holiday bookings. Most of our airlines are offering full refunds for cancelled summer flights as well.

TikaWeeks #19-5/2019: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 10th May 2019

"Tourism is the largest employer in Sri Lanka and the growth in the past few years has uplifted tens of thousands across the country from hotel staff to tuk-tuk drivers to fishermen... I have taken the initiative together with our colleagues across the travel industry to come together as the 'Sri Lanka Tourism Alliance' with a website to serve as a single point of reference on developments." Malik Fernando, Managing Director, Resplendent Ceylon.

TikaWeeks #19-4/2019: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 9th May 2019

On Tuesday evening (07 May 2019), the President of Sri Lanka together with the heads of the Armed Forces and the Police addressed the Diplomatic community in Sri Lanka. The message he conveyed was that all of the terror group responsible for the 21 April 2019 attack have been either eliminated or arrested and the situation is well under control. He requested the Diplomatic community to relax the Travel Advisories soon, so that tourism could recommence to Sri Lanka.

TikaWeeks #19-2/2019: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 7th May 2019

The UK Minister for Security and Economic Crime, Ben Wallace, returned from Sri Lanka recently, saying "As part of my visit, I have discussed our current travel advice and been clear that we hope to see the Sri Lankan tourism industry return to full strength. We will do all we can to help the Sri Lankan authorities with this."

TikaWeeks #19-1/2019: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 7th May 2019

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) continues to advise against all but essential travel to Sri Lanka, due to the current evolving security situation following attacks on 21 April 2019. Hopefully as close to normality as possible will return to the island soon and the FCO will revise the travel advice to allow leisure visits once again. We will keep you posted with any further developments and please visit the FCO website for current official travel advice for Sri Lanka.

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.

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.

TikaWeeks #51/2018: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 21st December 2018

Apologies for the long absence of TikaWeeks and, in the interim, much has happened. I spent another productive couple of weeks in Sri Lanka in October on my annual research trip, including very successful office and guide meetings. Visited WTM in London briefly to catch up with colleagues from Sri Lanka. Watched incredulously as the political situation on the island developed into a surreal farce…

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