Ethical policy

“We are extremely proud of our beautiful country and would like to ensure that, where possible, your stay benefits the local communities”

Sri Lanka Driver Tours aims to be a fair trade company as both my father-in-law and I have worked as drivers for large tour companies where you must depend upon your tips to top up your wages to an acceptable level. We are extremely proud of our beautiful country and would like to ensure that, where possible, your stay benefits the local communities of Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka Driver Tours therefore promises to:

Pay our drivers a fair daily wage and review it regularly inline with inflation and length of service. (The majority of tour companies pay a poor wage that is boosted only if the driver receives tips).

Recommend a wide selection of quality hotels that are owned by Sri Lankans who employ local staff where possible and treat them fairly. (This will ensure that the profits from the business will remain in the national economy and benefit the people of this Sri Lanka).

Provide the opportunity, as long as you agree, for souvenir shopping at fair trade independent Sri Lankan shop owners. The current practice among many tour companies is to push clients towards government-approved large private retailers who then pay the tour company as much as twenty percent of the money you spend. (We are happy to take you to these shops, should you wish, but you will have a wide choice depending upon your needs).

Invest at least 10% of the annual profits into a community English project in Nuwara Eliya, which is a particularly beautiful but deprived area of Sri Lanka. The gift of English lessons is the gift of opportunity. Indeed the English couple who are setting this project up have helped us with the content of the website. We originally met when I was their driver for a two-week tour. If you would like to contact them to find out more about their Community Project (Tea Leaf Trust), please email them at tealeaftrust@yahoo.com or go to www.myspace.com/tealeaftrust for further information about the Tea Leaf Trust project