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

Class of 2021: New Johns Hopkins students pose for their class photo (courtesy of Will Kirk/Johns Hopkins University)

TikaWeeks #11-3/2020: Sri Lanka & Maldives update

Posted by John on 12th March 2020

Johns Hopkins experts in global public health, infectious disease, and emergency preparedness have been at the forefront of the international response to coronavirus disease (COVID-19), and the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins has developed an online interactive dashboard to visualise and track reported cases of COVID-19 in real time. This is potentially the most accurate and current resource for keeping up to date with COVID-19 developments.

Vilamendhoo Island Resort & Spa, South Ari Atoll, Maldives

TikaWeeks #11-2/2020: Maldives update

Posted by John on 11th March 2020

The British Foreign & Commonwealth Office updated their official travel advice for Maldives last night and currently advise against all but essential travel to Kuredu, Vilemendhu (Vilamendhoo), Batalaa and Kuramathi Island Resorts, which have all been placed under temporary quarantine following suspected cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). However, we know from customers who were on ‘lock down’ on Vilamendhoo yesterday that the island has been released from quarantine today.

Coronavirus or COVID-19 (courtesy of University of Southern California)

TikaWeeks #11-1/2020: Sri Lanka & Maldives update

Posted by John on 9th March 2020

In the face of the World Health Organization (WHO) declaring coronavirus disease (COVID-19) a public health emergency of international concern, should you cancel or postpone your travel plans? It depends, say public health experts. The WHO is recommending that elderly travellers and those with underlying health conditions delay or avoid travel to areas that are experiencing ongoing transmission of COVID-19 – thankfully, Sri Lanka is not one of them.

Global incidence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on 03 March 2020 (courtesy of WHO/CDC)

TikaWeeks #10/2020: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 4th March 2020

Colombo airport authorities in Sri Lanka have announced that only passengers will be allowed onto the airport premises and health screening measures have also been introduced for some flight arrivals. You should comply with any additional screening measures put in place by the authorities. Passengers arriving by air from countries with a high incidence of coronavirus may be subject to additional health screening and a quarantine requirement if they are demonstrating symptoms.

Tikalanka stand AP38 at Destinations: The Holiday & Travel Show, London Olympia, 30 January to 02 February 2020

TikaWeeks #09/2020: Sri Lanka & Maldives update

Posted by John on 27th February 2020

Many thanks to everyone who came to visit us at Destinations: The Holiday & Travel Show, the UK’s biggest event for travel inspiration, held at Olympia London from 30 January to 02 February 2020. As always, the show was busy and a great success for us, with much interest for seeing less trammelled areas of Sri Lanka as well as the well-trodden routes. Since then, coronavirus (COVID-19) has raised its ugly head across the globe…

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

TikaWeeks #05/2020: Sri Lanka & Maldives update

Posted by John on 27th January 2020

Our annual pilgrimage south is upon us. Destinations: The Holiday & Travel Show, the UK’s biggest event for travel inspiration takes 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 show courtesy of Tikalanka.

TikaWeeks #03/2020: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 14th January 2020

The Visa Fee Exemption programme to Sri Lanka has been extended to 30 April 2020. Previously, the scheme ran for six months from 01 August 2019. Visitors are still being advised to register their details on the official ETA website to avoid any potential delays upon arrival at the airport, but a fee will not be taken for foreign nationals from 48 countries, including the UK, most of Europe, Australia, Canada and the USA.

TikaWeeks #52/2019: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 23rd December 2019

Nearly at the end of the year and at least the days are getting longer now that we are past the Winter Solstice – well, infinitesimally anyway! We hope that you have a fun-filled festive season and all of the best for 2020. Remember to come and see us at Destinations: The Holiday & Travel Show at London Olympia next month. We will be closed from lunchtime tomorrow to 06 January 2020, although emails will be checked regularly.

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.

Supporters of Gotabaya Rajapaksa celebrate his election victory in Colombo (courtesy of Eranga Jayawardena/AP)

TikaWeeks #47/2019: Sri Lanka update

Posted by John on 19th November 2019

Sri Lanka has a new President, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, another of the brothers from the infamous political dynasty. Running his campaign on strengthening security and the economy, his objectives seem to have struck a chord with the majority Sinhalese Buddhist community, which makes up over 70% of the island’s population, particularly following the atrocities perpetrated on Easter Sunday. However, is Gotabaya Rajapaksa the president Sri Lankans need?

Independent Tailor-made Holidays to Sri Lanka & Maldives