About us
We're not the biggest courier. We're the one Sri Lankan families actually trust.
For 18+ years we've been doing one thing: helping Sri Lankan families send things to each other across the country and the world. From sweetmeats to wedding sarees to small-business orders — every parcel matters. That's the whole job.
Our story
From one office to a network across three countries.
Started in the North
Founded as a small parcel office serving families in the Jaffna peninsula and the Vanni. The original promise — get a parcel from a mother in Jaffna to her son abroad, with paperwork done and no hassle — is still the whole pitch.
Expanded across the Northern Province
Branches opened across the Jaffna peninsula and into Vavuniya, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, and Mannar. The network grew alongside families returning to the North post-war.
Eastern and Colombo branches
Trincomalee, Batticaloa, and Wellawatte joined the network — bringing the operation into the East and the south-west capital, where many Tamil and Sinhala diaspora families have roots.
Chennai office
Opened in Valasaravakkam to serve the large Sri Lankan diaspora across Tamil Nadu. Air and sea cargo, export and import, domestic and international — same trusted standards.
Toronto office and sea cargo
Scarborough branch opens, kicking off our Canada → Sri Lanka sea-cargo service. Free pickup across Toronto and nearby cities, monthly sailings, transparent box pricing.
22 branches, three countries, every country in the world
20 Sri Lankan branches, plus our Chennai and Toronto offices. Air courier to every country in the world, sea cargo from Canada, and a real person on WhatsApp who actually remembers you.
The founder
Saaruban Sivaratnam
Founder
One vision — connect Sri Lankans to wherever life takes them, and back home again.
Saaruban has spent his career building businesses that bridge Sri Lanka and the diaspora — moving parcels home, sending students abroad, training workers for Canada, helping families migrate. Ellaam Express is the logistics arm of that mission.
What we stand for
The four things we've held on to since day one.
Trust over scale
We'd rather have 100 families who send with us for life than 10,000 who try us once. That's why we say no to volume that compromises service.
Honest, transparent rates
Same published rate for every customer. No haggling, no surprise surcharges at intake, no inflated weights. The number we quote is what you pay.
Real people, not call centres
Every WhatsApp message is read by someone on our team — usually answered within 15 minutes. They remember you next time. They flag better options when they exist.
The diaspora is our family
We grew up alongside the diaspora. We understand what a parcel of sweetmeats means to someone far from home. That's why every parcel gets the care it would get if it were ours.
Why Ellaam
Six reasons families pick us — and stay with us for years.
Free door-to-door pickup
Don't have time to drop in? Message us on WhatsApp and we'll come to your home or office, anywhere in our coverage area. No charge, no minimum order. The team brings a scale, a tape, labels, and pre-filled customs forms — your parcel leaves the same day.
20 branches, North to Colombo
From Wellawatte to Point Pedro, Mannar to Batticaloa — there's an Ellaam branch within a short drive of most diaspora households. Walk in any working day, drop your parcel, and get a tracking number on the spot.
Insured and customs-handled
Every shipment is insured by default against loss or damage. For high-value items (jewellery, electronics), declare extra value at intake for additional coverage. Customs paperwork — CN22, CN23, commercial invoices, country-specific certificates — we handle end-to-end so you never have to.
Transparent pricing
No hidden fees, no per-customer haggling. The same published rate for everyone, by weight and destination. The quote we give you on WhatsApp is what you pay — we re-weigh at intake and update if you sent less than estimated.
WhatsApp answer in 15 minutes
Forget hold music. Message us on WhatsApp and a real person on our team replies — usually within 15 minutes during working hours. They remember you. They know your usual destinations. They flag better options when they exist (use sea cargo instead of air, consolidate this with another shipment).
Built for the diaspora
From a mother in Jaffna sending sweetmeats to her son in Toronto, to a small business in Batticaloa shipping orders to London — we know the assignment. We grew up alongside this community. Every parcel is treated like it's our own.
Our footprint
A small business with a global reach.
We're run like a family operation — but the network we've built over 18+ years means a parcel from your home in Jaffna can reach Toronto, London, or Sydney without you ever leaving WhatsApp.
One vision, many businesses
Ellaam Express is part of a wider family.
Travel, education, migration, workforce training — all built by the same founder, around the same mission: connecting Sri Lankans to wherever life takes them, and back home.
Ellaam Express
Parcels, cargo, and trade — Sri Lanka, India, Canada.
V2 Travels and Tours
Air tickets and tour packages — for the people, not just the parcels.
V4 Educational Consultancy
From A/L results to a degree abroad — guided end-to-end.
Canada Migration Pilot
Families to Canada. Skilled workers to Canadian employers.
College of International Migration Skills
Train in Sri Lanka. Get certified. Work in Canada.
Ready to send a parcel?
Get a quote in 60 seconds on WhatsApp, or walk into any of our 20 branches across Sri Lanka.