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

TikaWeeks #15-1/2020: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 6th April 2020

If you live in the UK and are currently visiting Sri Lanka, you are strongly advised to return immediately by commercial means since special charter flights will only operate for priority countries where commercial flights are not possible – there remain commercial options to return to the UK from Sri Lanka. You should not assume that these flights will become available in countries where there are commercial alternatives.

TikaWeeks #14-3/2020: Sri Lanka & Maldives update

Posted by John on 2nd April 2020

Curfews in Sri Lanka are subject to last-minute changes and checkpoints have been introduced. If you are already in Sri Lanka, the government has announced that visit visas will be extended to 12 May 2020. There are currently no commercial flights available to return to the UK from Maldives. If you cannot leave Maldives at this time, the British Foreign & Commonwealth Office has posted a 5-point plan of ‘What to do’.

TikaWeeks #14-2/2020: Sri Lanka & Maldives update

Posted by John on 1st April 2020

The WHO has commended Sri Lanka in the fight against coronavirus disease (COVID-19), as the president appealed to world aid organisations to grant concessions to developing countries at risk from the global effects of COVID-19. It is likely that flight options will become more restricted in the coming days. The Government of Maldives has declared a Public Health Emergency and imposed a daily curfew from 02 April 2020 until further notice. New travel restrictions are severely limiting commercial flight schedules.

TikaWeeks #14-1/2020: Sri Lanka & Maldives update

Posted by John on 31st March 2020

In Sri Lanka, the curfew imposed in Colombo, Gampaha, Jaffna, Kalutara, Kandy and Puttalam Districts is extended until further notice; in all other districts, the curfew will be lifted daily from 06.00 to 14.00. Colombo airport is closed to arrivals until 08 April 2020, although Emirates is resuming flights to Colombo (and Malé) from 01 June 2020. In Maldives, Malé airport is closed daily from 21.00 to 06.00, and all resorts are banned from accepting bookings and will close after the last guests depart.

TikaWeeks #13-4/2020: Sri Lanka & Maldives update

Posted by John on 28th March 2020

A nationwide curfew is in place in Sri Lanka, which is strictly enforced. This will continue until further notice in Colombo, Gampaha, Jaffna and Kalutara Districts. In Puttalam District and the Northern Province (other than Jaffna District) the curfew will be in place from 14.00 on 27 March 2020 until 06.00 on 30 March 2020 then re-imposed at 14.00 the same day. The curfew currently in force in other districts will be lifted from 06.00 to 12 noon daily.

TikaWeeks #13-3/2020: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 25th March 2020

All types of visas to enter Sri Lanka have been temporarily suspended for all foreign nationals until further notice. Also, all visas already granted to foreign nationals who have not yet arrived in Sri Lanka will be temporarily suspended and they will not be allowed to enter the country until 01 April 2020.

TikaWeeks #13-2/2020: Sri Lanka & Maldives update

Posted by John on 24th March 2020

EXCEPTIONAL TRAVEL ADVISORY NOTICE - As countries respond to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, including travel and border restrictions, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office advises British nationals against all but essential international travel. Any country or area may restrict travel without notice. If you live in the UK and are currently travelling abroad, you are strongly advised to return now, where and while there are still commercial routes available.

TikaWeeks #13-1/2020: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 23rd March 2020

Etihad Airways and Emirates will suspend flights out of Colombo by 25 March 2020; SriLankan Airlines and Qatar Airways are still offering flights. The arrivals terminal at Colombo airport is closed until further notice as another measure to help prevent coronavirus disease (COVID-19) from entering Sri Lanka, although the departure terminal is open as normal. The curfew continues at varying times around the island, and a 24-hour hotline is now available to all foreign tourists to provide assistance during the COVID-19 crisis.

TikaWeeks #12-6/2020: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 22nd March 2020

The curfew imposed throughout Sri Lanka will be lifted at 06.00 on 23 March 2020 and re-imposed at 14.00 of the same day until 06.00 on 24 March 2020. Further curfews will be notified later. The Sri Lanka government has also banned all passenger flights and ships from entering the country until further notice with the aim of preventing the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

TikaWeeks #12-5/2020: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 21st March 2020

There may be problems arranging transport to the airport for your flight home, although a number of taxi and tourism companies continue to operate airport runs, but will require advance booking. For once, I agree with Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa that the Sri Lanka government “have taken all possible measures to ensure the safety of our people” facing the threat of coronavirus disease. We will see how the UK government’s actions compare as time goes on…

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