The company was formed in 1995; with its aim to be one of the leading travel and tourism specialists in the industry.
The brainchild of Afghar Mohideen, the company first opened its doors in 1995 as a single business entity with two divisions, consisting of a staff cadre of 5 individuals. United Holidays has today evolved into 4 independent companies with a team of 75 and it continues to grow.
Innovation and commitment are the key factors for United Holidays’ transformation into the company that it is today. The organisation consists of 4 independent bodies which includes United Holidays, United Air Services, Go Holidays and United Ventures.

United Holidays – Destination management and inbound tour operator
United Air Services – General Sales Agent for United Airlines and Air Canada
Go Holidays – Outbound IATA accredited travel specialist and the only partner of STA Travel and ISIC
United Ventures – Venture Capital and Investment

Today, these four business units have evolved in to providing a wide scope of travel and tourism solutions to meet the ever growing demands of the market, whilst maintaining their individual brand identities.
Backed by our experience and a thorough understanding of the industry, business and customer, we at United Holidays strive to provide complete value and care to each client, business partner and stakeholders alike, by becoming partners in achieving their individual and business goals.

"get the basics right, go beyond expected standards and practices".

Innovate – products, services and delivery,
Generate – bottom line and
Inspire – team and partners"


Awards and Recognition

The UK based ‘SAGA Holidays’ which operates to 72 destinations worldwide, has consistently recognized the contribution of United Holidays by bestowing a number of awards for the tours operated in Sri Lanka. The laurels include ‘Outstanding Tour Operator of the Year’ in 2005. The awards are made more significant in that it is based on the comments and feedback of the SAGA clientele that fill in a comprehensive questionnaire at the conclusion of each tour.
Fedex Express presented United Holidays with an award for the excellent organization of the FedEx Sales Rally, Sri Lanka held from the 7-9 February 2003.
An award from United Airlines for an outstanding Sales Performance in 2004

Location

We are located at the prestigious World Trade Center (WTC) – in the heart of Colombo’s financial district. In addition to housing various international airlines, the WTC is home to the Colombo Stock Exchange, Board of Investment of Sri Lanka, many banks, ministries, buying offices and a host of other multinational businesses.

United Holidays was one of the very first companies to set up shop at the WTC.  We have experienced many a challenge during the turbulent years; from which the company has emerged a stronger and more professional outfit.

Management Team

Afghar Mohideen (B.A.Hons) Chairman

A stalwart in the tourism industry and corporate arena in Sri Lanka, Mr. Mohideen’s eventful history dates back 30 years in the travel trade. Formerly associated with the John Keells Group of Companies, he served as Managing Director of Walkers Tours, Keells Hotels, Keells Transportation Ltd and SITA World Travels Lanka Limited. He then decided he would try his hand at politics in which he had always evinced a keen interest, but made a retreat when he found that active politics was not his forte. He then founded United Holidays Pvt Ltd. He is a Past President of the Travel Agents Association of Sri Lanka (TAASL) and the Pacific Area Travel Association (PATA) Sri Lanka Chapter. He is also a member of SKAL. He currently serves as a board member of the State Mortgage and Investment Bank and is the immediate past secretary and board member of the American Chamber of Commerce in Sri Lanka. Mr. Mohideen also served as a member of the Presidential Task Force on Tourism.

Parveen Dassenaike Managing Director

Parveen has been with United Holidays since the company was first established in 1995, playing a pivotal role in its development over the years. Her career choice was to join the legal field. Having spent a year and a half at the Faculty of Law, a victim of the incessant student strikes at the time, she decided law libraries and dusty books was not the way forward. She opted for the vibrant and people oriented hospitality industry and began her career at the Lanka Oberoi which has extended to over twenty years in the hotel and airline industry. Her experience in the airline field includes formal training in ticketing, reservations, sales & marketing, thus paving her way up the corporate ladder with Japan Airlines, Air Holland, United Airlines and Air Canada. She is a past president of the Sri Lanka Association of Airline Representatives (SLAAR). She served two terms on the board of the American Chamber of Commerce in Sri Lanka from 2008 and currently serves on the Board of the Neo Synthesis Research Center

Nihal Hettiarachchi (FCA,FSCMA) Director - Finance

Mr. Hettiarachchi is a Fellow Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and a founder member and Fellow of the Society of Certified Management Accountants of Sri Lanka. He has over 20 years of experience in the fields of accountancy, auditing and management which include four years with Coopers and Lybrand - Zambia and Pricewaterhouse Coopers in the Maldives. Mr. Hettiarachchi brings with him to the Board an invaluable mix of experience, pragmatism and wit.

Ravi Widyalankara Executive Director – Go Holidaysys

A product of the prestigious Royal College, Ravi is an IATA/UFTAA qualified consultant. His 30 year track record in the aviation industry includes work experience at KLM (Royal Dutch Airlines) in Colombo, Fahad Express in Oman and a 15 year stint as General Manager for Air Global Limited - GSA for Qantas and British Airways. In addition to this experience, Ravi is a qualified trainer and has conducted training sessions for SLAAR, TAASL, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), Department of Immigration and Emigration and the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotions Bureau. From 2007 – 2009,he served as Chairman of the Sri Lanka Association of Airline Representatives (SLAAR). Quiet and unassuming in demeanor, Ravi is an asset and an integral part of our Management Team.

Gayangi Wirasinha Director - United Holidays

A graduate of The University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, Gayangi joined United Holidays in 2002 focusing on new market development. Her core responsibility has been to expand the tour operator base with new markets such as France, Japan and the Far Eastern Countries. Prior to joining United Holidays Gayangi served as a lecturer at D.P.Aides Information Technology Training Institute and at Mobitel Customer Service Unit. Always looking to create and introduce new and innovative products, Gayangi who heads Inbound is a pillar of strength and support to the Management Team.

Thisum Jayasuriya Director – United Air Services

With 10 years of experience in the airline industry including a management stint at Emirates and Qatar airways, Thisum received his formal training in marketing, ticketing, reservations and advanced fares in Sri Lanka and overseas. Introduced to United in 2004 as Asst. Manager of Sales, Thisum now serves on the team as Executive Director. Thisum also served as Chair of the Sri Lanka Interline Club for the year 2009. In the year 2000, he was granted the Mahabruk Bronze Medal awarded by Emirates Airlines for his dedicated service during the terrorist attack on the Katunayake Airport. Good natured, result oriented, hard working and humorous, Thisum is always the source of life and laughter at the office!

Manjula Perera Director - Finance

The Finance Division is headed by Manjula Perera; who brings on board a wide range of local and international exposure in Finance and General Management disciplines. Having completed his articles at Ernst & Young, Manjula joined the finance industry in 1997. Since then, he has worked for blue chip companies such as Taj Exotica Hotels Ltd, James Finlay & Company Ltd, Asian Alliance Insurance Company Ltd and Interfashion as an Accountant. Manjula also served in the African continent; working in Botswana for Cadbury International as Finance Manager for over 5 years. His background includes 15 years of experience in the field of accountancy and finance. Manjula is the perennial voice of reasoning at United Holidays, and plays an integral role in the successful running of the operation. .

Dileepa Weerasekere Manager – Operations, STA Travel/ISIC

As a student in the U.K, Dileepa happened upon a part time job at Sri Lankan Airlines in London. What started out as an internship, very rapidly transformed into a professional career in the travel industry; Dileepa hasn’t looked back ever since! Returning to Sri Lanka after graduating in 2005, Dileepa joined Go Holidays as a Travel Consultant in the STA Travel Division. He now heads all operational procedures at STA Travel. With wide experience in the outbound travel industry, Dileepa is the epitome of loyalty, strict work ethic and a power house of knowledge in fares & ticketing.

Nafisa Fazleali Manager – Marketing & Product Development, STA Travel/ISIC

The youngest member of the Management Team, Nafisa – a graduate in Journalism and Mass Communication, specializes in sales, marketing and public relations for Go Holidays and the Company in general. Nafisa was introduced to the industry in 2006 when she joined Go Holidays as an Asst. Manager in Sales and Marketing, in charge of sales for STA Travel & ISIC. She played an important role in turning the STA/ISIC division into a profitable business center as well as increasing Go Holidays status to a Provisional Licensed Authority for ISIC. She has now progressed into taking on larger marketing projects for the entire company. Blessed with an outgoing personality, Nafisa brings to the team a fun, positive and professional outlook!

Established in 1995, we pride ourselves as being one of the leading independent destination management companies in Sri Lanka. United Holidays currently represent a range of leading tour operators from generating global markets such as the UK, India, France, Spain, Germany, Netherlands, Japan, China and the Middle East. In view of the volume of business generated since its inception, United Holidays has been able to command strong buying power among independent hotels and hotel chains alike.

United Holidays currently operate a choice of tours such as cultural, nature, eco, adventure, incentives, meetings and conferences. In addition we arrange shore excursions for cruise liners, beach stays and all-inclusive programs. www.unitedholidays.lk will provide a broader perspective of how best to discover Sri Lanka, the diverse range of experiences available here and highlight the activities and achievements of United Holidays. With representative offices in Paris, Frankfurt, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing, United Holidays hopes to continue its growth in the tourism industry in Sri Lanka as an innovative Destination Management Company.

Holidays By Design

In the recent past, Sri Lanka has been experiencing a significant growth in high-end tourism. We at United Holidays have taken the lead in creating a niche market product titled ‘Holidays By Design’, with
the aim of facilitating this growth with an ‘all inclusive’ resource for lifestyle tourism in Sri Lanka.

Incorporated as a subsidiary of United Holidays, ‘Holidays By Design’ is geared to provide tailor made special interest holidays in Sri Lanka through exclusive villas, bungalows, boutique hotels and luxury camping. All this and more designed to re-discover Sri Lanka in new and exciting ways!

This comprehensive web based product was designed to provide information to agents and guests alike and is in the process of evolving into a complete e-commerce venture with online availability and payment gateway. The two main aspects taken into consideration when formatting this product was privacy and exclusivity and not price; as we design private holidays to suit a range of budgets.

For more information visit our comprehensive web site www.holidaysbydesign.lk

United Air Services

Appointed GSA for United Airlines in 1995 and Air Canada in 2001, both airlines are members of the prestigious Star Alliance.

The growth rate achieved by both airlines year –on- year in Sri Lanka are reflections of our commitment to enhance each respective product. Both airlines operate as independent profit centers with dedicated teams that execute the different areas of ticketing, sales and marketing.

The driving force behind improving the growth levels of these airlines within the country has been the sound relationships built with all stakeholders within the industry and the corporate world over the years. Establishing brand image and reputation for these airlines amongst business travelers and a cross section of agents (large, medium and small scale) that control this market is another key reason behind our success.

Our multi-functional team bring with them experience in both on-line and off-line operations. The company is committed to the development of its employees and continues to invest in training both locally and internationally.

Go Holidays

With the aim of expanding our portfolio in the travel industry, Go Holidays Private Limited, an IATA accredited travel agency, was established in 2005 and appointed the sole local representative of STA Travel and the International Student Identity Card (ISIC) in Sri Lanka. This differentiated ourselves from other agents and expanded the company’s portfolio and penetration in to all aspects of travel, resulting in the company becoming the only advocate of student and youth travel in Sri Lanka.

STA Travel & the International Student Identity Card (ISIC)

STA Travel is the world’s largest travel company for students and youth. Represented in Sri Lanka solely by Go Holidays Private Limited, STA Travel’s core products include flights, land (hotels and hostels), insurance, global customer support and discount cards for students, youth and teachers.
We have gained recognition in Sri Lanka as being student travel specialists.

The International Student Identity Card (ISIC) is a student’s passport to fantastic discounts and services at home and around the world. The ISIC card is the only internationally recognized, UNESCO endorsed student identity which entitles a student to over 40,000 educational and lifestyle benefits in Sri Lanka and 120 other countries worldwide.

Endorsed by the Ministry of Education in Sri Lanka and the local UNESCO authority, we have been successful in establishing strong partnerships with benefit providers and co-brands with academic institutions.

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