Privacy Policy
Effective Date: October 9, 2026 • Website: serendibtrailslanka.com • Operator: Sithum (Serendib Trails)
At Serendib Trails ("we," "our," or "us"), accessible via https://serendibtrailslanka.com, the privacy of our visitors is one of our highest priorities. This Privacy Policy document outlines the types of information that is collected and recorded by Serendib Trails and how we use, protect, and handle it in strict compliance with international privacy laws, including the European Union General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA / CPRA).
1. Information We Collect
We collect information directly provided by you and automatically gathered through your interaction with our website:
- Voluntary Information: When you subscribe to our newsletter, download our free Sri Lanka Trip Planner PDF, or submit a message via our contact form, we collect your name, email address, topic preference, and message details.
- Log Data & Device Information: Like most web applications, our servers automatically log standard web requests. This data includes your Internet Protocol (IP) address, browser type, Internet Service Provider (ISP), referring/exit pages, operating system, date/time stamps, and clickstream data. This information is non-personally identifiable and used strictly for website security, server performance monitoring, and demographic analysis.
2. How We Use Your Information
We use the collected information for the following legitimate purposes:
- To deliver requested travel itineraries, packing lists, and newsletter guides.
- To respond to your travel planning questions and editorial inquiries.
- To analyze user engagement, popular destinations, and improve site speed and UX.
- To detect, prevent, and mitigate spam, fraud, or technical issues.
3. Advertising & Google AdSense
We partner with Google AdSense and authorized third-party ad networks to display advertisements when you visit our website.
- Third-Party Vendors & Google: Third-party vendors, including Google, use cookies (such as the DoubleClick / DART cookie) to serve ads based on your prior visits to our website or other websites across the Internet.
- Personalized Advertising: Google’s use of advertising cookies enables it and its partners to serve ads to users based on their visit to Serendib Trails and/or other sites on the Internet.
- Opting Out: You may opt out of personalized advertising by visiting Google Ads Settings. Alternatively, you can opt out of third-party vendors' use of cookies for personalized advertising by visiting AboutAds.info Choices.
- Consent for EEA & UK Users: For visitors from the European Economic Area (EEA) and the UK, we implement Google-certified consent management mechanisms (CMP) in accordance with the IAB Europe Transparency and Consent Framework.
4. Cookies, Analytics & Affiliate Tracking
Cookies: Cookies are small text files stored on your device that allow websites to remember user preferences.
- Google Analytics 4: We use Google Analytics to understand reader behavior. IP addresses are anonymized, and no sensitive personal data is transmitted.
- Affiliate Cookies: Serendib Trails contains affiliate links (e.g. Booking.com, GetYourGuide, Airalo, 12Go Asia). When you click these links, a temporary cookie is stored on your device by the merchant to track referring commissions at zero additional cost to you.
5. Your Privacy Rights (GDPR & CCPA)
Regardless of your country of residence, you have comprehensive rights regarding your personal data:
- The right to access: You have the right to request copies of any personal data we hold about you.
- The right to rectification: You have the right to request corrections to any inaccurate or incomplete information.
- The right to erasure ("Right to be Forgotten"): You may request that we delete your email and subscriber records at any time.
- The right to withdraw consent: You may unsubscribe from any newsletter with a single click using the link at the footer of every email.
- CCPA "Do Not Sell My Personal Information": We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to any third parties.
6. Children's Online Privacy Protection (COPPA)
Protecting children's privacy online is paramount. Serendib Trails does not knowingly collect any Personal Identifiable Information from children under the age of 13. If you believe your child has provided personal information on our website, please contact us immediately, and we will promptly remove such records from our databases.
7. Data Controller & Contact Details
If you have any questions, requests, or concerns regarding this Privacy Policy or our data handling practices, please contact us at:
Website: Serendib Trails (serendibtrailslanka.com)
Founder / Data Controller: Sithum
Official Email: serendibtrailsl@gmail.com
Location: Colombo & Southern Province, Sri Lanka
Contact Page: serendibtrailslanka.com/contact