Meet the People Who Bring Sri Lanka to Life

Sri Lanka is an incredibly diverse country to explore and, understandably, one of our travellers’ favourites. It’s full of fascinating history, a warm and vibrant mix of cultures, and landscapes stretching from wildlife-rich jungles to the roaring surf of the coast. There’s certainly no shortage of things to see, but it’s often the people who stay with you.

To truly get to the heart of the country, you need an exceptional guide, and the art of great guiding has evolved over the years. Travellers don’t want endless historical dates delivered as a monologue — there’s only so much anyone remembers before lunch. They want to be engaged, have their interests taken into account, hear stories and meet people whose lives offer a different perspective on their own.

Our partners in Sri Lanka understand this wonderfully well. The people they introduce you to are hosts, storytellers and passionate advocates for their country, helping you develop a deeper understanding of the places you explore. Here are a few of the characters who can bring your Sri Lankan journey to life.

Muditha

An economist turned conservationist, Muditha Katuwawala’s passion for the ocean led him to found The Pearl Protectors in 2018, after reading a report naming Sri Lanka among the world’s leading contributors to ocean pollution. He decided something needed to change — and set about making it happen.

His work began with tackling ocean pollution but has since evolved to address Sri Lanka’s most urgent marine conservation needs. He mobilised a huge group of volunteers to support clean-up efforts after the M/V X-Press Pearl disaster, which released billions of plastic pellets into the ocean.

He continues to advocate for the ocean and educate Sri Lankans about safeguarding their marine environment, and is considered one of the country’s leading marine conservationists.

Rudrani

An artist of Sri Lankan and Norwegian descent, Rudrani Devi Das lives in a hilltop cottage near Kandy, with views over the Hunnasgiriya mountains. Not a bad setting for a little creative inspiration.

Home-schooled and taught to paint by her artist father, she creates ethereal artworks inspired by fantasy, femininity, nature and spirits. Her first solo show, World of Fae, raised money for an animal welfare charity, a cause she cares deeply about.

With a playful, whimsical personality, Rudrani loves sharing her passion for art and creativity with others, discovering what the paintbrush creates each time.

Sam

Sam, or Sameera Liyan, is a pharmacist turned adventure guide who has been kayaking Sri Lanka’s rivers for more than 16 years. He runs EcoGrip from a riverside boathouse near Galle, offering kayaking, paddleboarding, rock climbing, abseiling and mountain biking for active locals and travellers.

His ultimate trip is the company’s signature multi-day kayak journey along the Mahaweli, Sri Lanka’s longest river, camping on riverbanks inside national parks. For those who like a little adventure with their holiday, this is quite an invitation.

Gregarious and funny, Sam wants to help more Sri Lankans feel confident on the water and inspire greater care for the environment through river clean-ups.

Rosanna

Rosanna Flamer-Caldera is one of Sri Lanka’s best-known LGBTIQ+ activists and was celebrated in TIME magazine’s 100 Most Influential People list in 2024.

Born in Colombo, she moved to San Francisco at 18 and marched in her first Pride parade in 1978, led by Harvey Milk. When she returned to Sri Lanka in 1990, she was shocked that same-sex relationships were still criminalised and began campaigning for change.

She founded the non-profit organisation EQUAL GROUND in 2004. In 2022, she won a landmark case before a UN committee challenging the criminalisation of lesbian and bisexual women. Her story offers a powerful insight into a side of Sri Lanka that visitors might otherwise know little about.

Rohan

Something of a conservation and science legend in Sri Lanka, Rohan Pethiyagoda has made an extraordinary contribution to understanding the country’s biodiversity and helping its students and scientists do the same.

He and his team have helped discover and describe nearly 150 species of fish, frogs, lizards and freshwater crabs. In 1990, he founded the Wildlife Heritage Trust, funding conservation research through the publication of natural history books — the first of their kind in the country. The trust also provides a bird guide free to school libraries across the island.

In 1998, Rohan began a rewilding project on abandoned tea plantations in the central highlands, which are gradually returning to native forest. He knows the full results will take centuries, although changes were visible after just ten years. That’s taking the long view rather more seriously than most of us.

Today, his focus is inspiring and encouraging young scientists. His work has been recognised with a Rolex Award and the Linnean Medal for Zoology, and he has served on the IUCN Species Survival Commission.

Speak to our Sri Lanka specialists about weaving these personal encounters into your journey, with arrangements made through our local partners.