DODWELL “DODDY” POLLOCKS
Founder & Managing Director — Expeditions of Sri Lanka
Tourism Professional | Private Chauffeur-Guide | Travel Consultant | Destination Specialist
For Dodwell “Doddy” Pollocks, tourism has never simply been a profession. It is a passion shaped by years of travelling, learning, meeting people and developing a deep appreciation for the extraordinary island he calls home Sri Lanka.
Today, Doddy is the Founder and Managing Director of Expeditions of Sri Lanka, a Sri Lankan destination management and private travel company built around one fundamental belief:
The most memorable journeys are not simply planned — they are personally experienced.
A Passion That Became A Profession
Doddy's fascination with travel began long before tourism became his career. During his school years, journeys across Sri Lanka with family and friends created an early curiosity for different landscapes, cultures, communities, wildlife and the stories behind the places he visited.
A proud alumnus of St. Benedict's College, he credits his education with helping shape the discipline, respect for others, environmental awareness and ability to connect with people that remain central to his approach today.
In 2012, Doddy officially entered Sri Lanka's tourism industry. Starting with limited professional experience but an enormous desire to learn, he gradually transformed his passion into a career.
My early professional years with Antiquity / Raffles Leisure provided valuable experience in destination management, guest handling, tour operations and the expectations of international travelers.
Later, working independently and alongside different Destination Management Companies broadened his understanding of the industry even further.
The difficult years surrounding the global pandemic tested that journey considerably. Yet they also strengthened his resilience and reinforced something he had come to understand clearly:
Tourism is ultimately a people business.
From Chauffeur-Guide To Entrepreneur
Those years of experience eventually became the foundation for Expeditions of Sri Lanka.
Rather than creating another company simply selling standard tour packages, Doddy wanted to build a travel brand around the qualities he valued most throughout his career personal attention, reliability, local knowledge, flexibility, authenticity and genuine Sri Lankan hospitality.
Today, as Founder and Managing Director, he remains personally involved in the journeys the company creates.
From the first inquiry and itinerary planning to accommodation, transportation, experiences and on-ground coordination, the objective is to understand the traveler first and then design Sri Lanka around them.
Expeditions of Sri Lanka provides tailor-made journeys ranging from private chauffeur-guided tours and family holidays to honeymoons, wildlife adventures, cultural discoveries, educational programmes, group travel and complete destination management services.
The Chauffeur-Guide Behind The Company
Despite becoming a business owner, Doddy has never wanted to distance himself from the road.
Being a private chauffeur-guide remains one of the most meaningful parts of his career.
There is something special about personally introducing a traveler to Sri Lanka watching them experience an elephant in the wild for the first time, discovering an ancient kingdom, travelling through the misty hill country, tasting unfamiliar local food or simply stopping somewhere unexpected because the moment feels right.
His approach goes beyond transporting guests from one hotel to another.
It is about understanding when to guide, when to recommend, when to change the plan and sometimes when to simply allow travelers to enjoy the moment.
That philosophy has become part of the identity of Expeditions of Sri Lanka.
Proudly Sri Lankan 🇱🇰
Nature remains one of Doddy's greatest personal passions.
From the beaches of Hikkaduwa, Bentota, Mirissa and Pasikuda to the spectacular landscapes surrounding Ella, there are places he naturally returns to. Yet choosing one favorite corner of Sri Lanka remains almost impossible.
Within a relatively small island are ancient civilizations, tropical beaches, mountains, tea plantations, rainforests, wildlife reserves, rural villages and communities carrying traditions passed through generations.
For Doddy, showcasing these places also brings responsibility.
Tourism should create meaningful opportunities for local communities, respect Sri Lanka's culture and environment and leave future generations with something worth protecting.
The Human Touch
After years of welcoming travelers from around the world, one principle continues to define Doddy's work:
People may initially come to Sri Lanka because of what they see in photographs but they often remember
the island because of how it made them feel.
That is why the vision behind Expeditions of Sri Lanka is not simply to sell holidays.
It is to create journeys where guests feel welcomed, understood, safe and genuinely connected to the destination.
Some arrive as clients.
Many leave as friends.
And for Doddy, there is no greater measure of success than seeing former guests return to Sri Lanka, recommend the company to their families and friends, or simply stay connected years after their journey has ended.
