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

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…

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.

Sample page of the new Tikalanka Trip Planner

TikaWeeks #34/2018: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 26th August 2018

The launch of the long anticipated new version of our Trip Planner has refreshed and updated the original for the mobile age. Based on Google Maps, the new Trip Planner may be accessed via mobile phones, tablets or laptops and enables you to create your own dream holiday to Sri Lanka and Maldives, wherever you are! This week’s update launches the beta release of our new Trip Planner, continues the Peoples of Sri Lanka series and offers accommodation options around Mirissa.

Sacred Ibises and Painted Storks around a water hole, Yala National Park, Sri Lanka

TikaWeeks #29/2018: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 22nd July 2018

As if you need encouragement, this week’s update highlights 10 good reasons to visit Sri Lanka. Surrounded by the clear, warm waters of the Indian Ocean and skirted by palm-fringed tropical beaches, Sri Lanka has much to offer the discerning traveller, known to Arab traders as Serendib, hence "serendipity" meaning discovery by happy accident. I also continue our Peoples of Sri Lanka series and suggest accommodation alternatives around Yala National Park.

Independent Tailor-made Holidays to Sri Lanka & Maldives