The amazing Chaminda Dammika shares his personal story, why he loves what he does, and tips on traveling in Sri Lanka.
Wherever you travel with us, our dedicated team members care for you every step of the way. They come from various backgrounds, and armed with their personal experiences and in-depth knowledge, they help you uncover the heart and soul of each destination.
Chaminda Dammika is one such invaluable member of our team. He has been an integral part of our panel of expert guides in Sri Lanka for the past eight years. Chaminda loves sharing his deep knowledge of his homeland with our guests, and helping them make memories to last a lifetime. Below, he shares his life’s journey with us, and his top tips for traveling in Sri Lanka.
Where or how did you grow up and what brought you into the travel industry?
I grew up in Maharagama, on the outskirts of Colombo. My father was a truck driver and my mother was a seamstress in a garment factory, which is where they met. My parents worked very hard to take care of my sister and I. When they are older, I want to do the same and take good care of my parents. I did my GCSEs and then studied IT. I got married at 24, and with my father-in-law’s support, I decided to go to Vancouver to continue with IT. But after a month, I had an accident and injured my back. At that time I decided to return home to Sri Lanka and my family. I started my own clothing export business, which helped me develop a large network of foreign contacts.
When the civil war ended in Sri Lanka, in 2009, I bought a car and started an official government training course for chauffeur-guides. I qualified in 2011, and have been working as a chauffeur-guide ever since.
What has kept you working with us for so long?
I have been a guide for Enchanting Travels since 2015. I always try to do my job to the very best of my ability, and I feel that is rewarded and recognized by ET. My first guests from ET were a German couple, who were lovely people. They really enjoyed their tour, and were kind enough to share some great feedback, which spurred me on. It’s been a pleasure to continue working with Enchanting Travels ever since.
Chaminda was very professional and so helpful. He was an excellent guide for us in Sri Lanka
Bonnie Mount, Enchanting Travels guest
Any favorite guest or trip stories?
A funny story comes to mind, and it involves a little misunderstanding. I had two very…
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