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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.
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.
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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.
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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.
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Posted by John on 18th December 2019
A day trip into the Hill Country to view a long list of potential hotels is never easy with the inevitable and ubiquitous switchback bends, slow pollution-emitting trucks, pedestrians, bicycles, motorbikes, dogs and the other ephemera associated with Sri Lanka’s extensive road network. However, with a 5am start and Sateesh at the wheel, we make it to Haputale in less than four hours, which is very impressive progress indeed.
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Posted by John on 16th December 2019
Our journey around the island takes us up north initially, through the Cultural Triangle and on to Jaffna. After a couple of nights there, we head east to Nilaveli before staying in Passikudah further south along the east coast. The following day we made our way back to Kandy via Gal Oya Lodge. We managed to cover a lot of ground in a short space of time by doing long days and thanks to Sateesh’s expert driving – he was also very useful to have with us in the north and east being a Tamil speaker.
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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.
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Posted by John on 2nd December 2019
As always, my annual research trip to Sri Lanka was very productive and particularly necessary this year following the awful events back in April, since when the island has been recovering from the aftermath. On a positive note, the resilient Sri Lankans are looking forward to the future and optimism is high. This update summarises our visits around Kandy. Future updates will follow our travels spanning the entire country, from Jaffna in the north to Galle in the south.
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Posted by John on 27th November 2019
I have just returned from my annual research trip to Sri Lanka, although it may be biannually from now on considering the climate crisis… On arrival on the island, it was a privilege to be invited to the Katina Pinkama ceremonies at Pathi and Suba’s house and local temple, where they had the honour of offering the special robe for the event to Nanda sadhu, their head monk and great friend of mine.
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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?
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Posted by John on 22nd October 2019
In October 1979, The Police released their seminal album Regatta de Blanc to critical acclaim. Included on the album was the lead single and soon-to-be global hit Message in a Bottle with a chorus beginning “I’ll send an SOS to the world”. Forty years on, we send an SOS to the world – Support Our Sri Lanka. With deals galore on offer at many of our favourite hotels until next April, it is definitely the time to visit Sri Lanka. So, come on in, the water’s lovely! Just give us a call to chat over your ideas for a holiday of a lifetime.
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