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: News

Hill Country tea fields, Sri Lanka (courtesy of Peter Hale)

TikaWeeks #14/2025: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 31st March 2025

The Pekoe Trail in Sri Lanka has rightly entered the Pantheon of the world’s greatest hiking trails since its launch in late 2023. Winding its way through the spectacular Hill Country, the 300 km-long, 22-stage hiking trail has won many accolades including TIME magazine’s ‘World’s Greatest Places’ list for 2025. Sri Lanka has also been revealed to be the world’s most family-friendly country in a recent report, and Condé Nast Traveler included Sri Lanka on its latest list of the 40 most beautiful countries in the world. So why not visit?

Thriving agriculture in the Buttala-Gonagan Ara area, Sri Lanka (courtesy of Eco Team)

TikaWeeks #13/2025: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 28th March 2025

One of our partners in Sri Lanka has been doing wonders with an agrarian community in the island’s southeastern Dry Zone region regarding human-elephant conflict. What started out as a bold conservation initiative to protect both human livelihoods and elephant populations has now blossomed into an inspiring story of resilience, coexistence, and renewal. Recent customers travelling through Colombo airport have suggested that the arrivals card is no longer necessary, however, we still haven’t received any official communication that this is the case.

TikaWeeks #12/2025: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 21st March 2025

The arrivals card portal for the Department of Immigration and Emigration of Sri Lanka is still down after a month so please complete a paper copy on arrival at Colombo airport instead. We have no idea why it has been inoperative for such a long time and hope it will be up and running again soon. Today’s unprecedented closure of London Heathrow airport due to a power outage has caused travel chaos with all flights cancelled. We hope power is restored again soon, although the airport will be closed until at least midnight tonight.

TikaWeeks #09/2025: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 26th February 2025

Today is Maha Shivratri Day! This Hindu festival celebrates the power of Lord Shiva, who protects his devotees from negative and evil spirits. The new Sri Lankan government, whose approval rating jumped to 62% this month, has promised to bail out the debt-ridden national carrier SriLankan Airlines to the tune of Rs20bn, which comes with the caveat of ensuring profitability in the future. In other news, a camera system based on AI fitted to the front of trains will hopefully save the lives of many wild elephants.

Baagu the leopard, Kumana National Park, Sri Lanka (courtesy of Eco Team)

TikaWeeks #08/2025: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 19th February 2025

Who would like to spot a leopard in Sri Lanka without the hullabaloo associated with sightings in Yala? If so, then look no further than Kumana National Park. Previously called Yala East – the main one was Yala West – Kumana is a tranquil wildlife reserve accessed from the east coast. Soon to launch Kalkudah Beach House, also on the east coast, is another exquisite offering from Teardrop Hotels, while luxury boutique hotels specialist Uga Escapes opened its latest property Uga Halloowella near Hatton in the Hill Country late last year.

TikaWeeks #04/2025: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 23rd January 2025

If you are looking for an authentic Sri Lankan beach town experience then seldom-visited Matara may appeal to you and look no further than Collectors House for a place to stay, which is a newly refurbished bijou boutique residence in the heart of the fort district. Also in Matara, 3 Sisters Beach House fronts a spectacular and secluded sandy beach, and it offers an ideal and exclusive villa stay for couples, families or friendship groups.

TikaWeeks #03/2025: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 18th January 2025

By the end of December 2024, Sri Lanka had welcomed more than 2 million visitors to its shores, which is a 38% increase on 2023 and the highest level since pre-pandemic 2019. Travellers from the UK remain ardent lovers of the island in third place behind India and Russia. In more news, Vogue toured the inimitable Resplendent Ceylon properties, and BBC Travel has selected Sri Lanka as one of the 25 best places to travel in 2025.

View of the Pennines from our house near Penrith, UK

TikaWeeks #02/2025: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 8th January 2025

Happy New Year! We hope your festive season was full of fun and joy. Being snowed in up here in The Lakes makes the idea of a tropical holiday to sun-soaked Sri Lanka very appealing and this is the busiest time of year for us for just that reason. Please contact us asap if you are thinking of travelling in the next few months as accommodation is booking up fast. Our first update of 2025 is dedicated to the lives lost and changed forever by the Asian Tsunami Disaster 20 years ago.

Monk lighting votive candles at Kataragama pilgrimage site, Sri Lanka

TikaWeeks #51/2024: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 20th December 2024

This year has been very positive for both Sri Lanka and Tikalanka, with more people visiting the island and more holidays booked with us. It’s still not up to the heady heights of just pre-COVID but things are on the up and 2025 looks like being even better. We will close at end of play on Friday 20 December 2024 until Thursday 02 January 2025, although we will respond to urgent enquiries during this period. In the meantime, may we wish you a fun-filled festive season and all the best for 2025.

Fort Bazaar courtyard, Galle fort, Sri Lanka

TikaWeeks #50/2024: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 11th December 2024

Hot off the press! The much-anticipated swimming pool at Fort Bazaar within Galle fort will finally open on 15 December 2024. This very generous 15 metres by 6 metres infinity pool with attached shallow area is surrounded by a sundeck edged with tropical plants. In other Teardrop Hotels’ news, Wallawwa has partnered with the globally acclaimed Vikasa brand to provide exclusive wellness experiences, the estate roads leading to Nine Skies and Camellia Hills have been resurfaced, and Lunuganga now has a dedicated café for all daytime visitors.

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