Visa

Before entering to Sri Lanka, make sure to get your visa and all Holiday or Business travelers to Sri Lanka must have Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA). Go to ETA official website and fill out the form and pay a fee. The permit for entering the country will be sent to your email within 24 hours.

Visa is valid for 30 days since the day of entry, but you can always extend for additional 60 days if you want to stay longer. You’ll need to visit Immigration and Emigration Department in Colombo to extend your visa.

Customs

You are allowed to bring into the country duty free 1.5 litres of spirits, two bottles of wine, a quarter-litre of toilet water, and a small quantity of perfume and souvenirs with a value not exceeding US $250.

There is no duty free allowance for tobacco products. You must declare valuable items such as cameras and laptops on arrival and must take these out of the country again when you leave. Non-prescription drugs and pornography are banned from importation into the country.

Health Precautions

No inoculations are compulsory unless you are coming from a yellow fever or cholera area. However, the following vaccinations are recommended if you plan a long trip or intend visiting remote areas:

Remember to plan well ahead with vaccinations. Allow up to six weeks to receive the full course, for some vaccinations require more than one dose, and some should not be given together.

The risk of malaria exists throughout the whole country apart from the districts of Colombo, Kalutara and Nuwara Eliya. Medication has to start one week prior to travel, continue during the trip, and finish four weeks after your return.

Sri Lanka's Currency

The local currency is the Sri Lankan Rupee, divided into 100 cents (you rarely come across scents today). Currency notes are Rs.5,000, Rs2,000, Rs1,000, Rs500, Rs100, Rs50, Rs20 and Rs10. Beware of mistaking the Rs500 note for the somewhat similar Rs100 one. To check whether notes are genuine when not given at a bank, look for a lion watermark. Coins, should you have receive them, will be in denominations up to Rs10.

Make sure you have plenty of lower denomination notes (Rs50, Rs100, Rs500), especially when travelling and you need to buy small items, fruit, and eat cheap meals, because change is often hard to come by apart from at hotels and big shops.

Communication

Consider buying a Sri Lankan SIM card for your mobile phone - Sri Lankan mobile phone call rates are relatively cheap, both for local and international calls. There is a Dialog GSM shop outside airport arrivals, or we can pre-purchase a SIM card for you if you let us know in advance.

WiFi can usually be found in most hotels, restaurants and cafes in Sri Lanka although the speed and security of the connections can vary. Internet cafes can also be found throughout the country.

Banks

Banks are open from 0900 hrs to 1300 hours Monday to Friday. Some city banks close at 1500 hrs, while some are open on Saturday mornings. It.s easy to withdraw money across the island at ATMs using international credit cards or debit card

Credit Cards

Most hotels, restaurants and shopping centres accept credit cards. Some establishments may try to add a surcharge, which is illegal.

Electricity & Adapters

Sri Lanka uses a range of sockets, including European and UK plug styles, so an international travel adapter may come in useful. Specialized Sri Lankan adaptors can be bought in major hotels and many shops.

Standard voltage in Sri Lanka is 230 V, standard frequency 50Hz. D, M, and G type of power sockets are used throughout the country (the plug either has three round pins or three rectangular blades). If you travel with a laptop computer bring a stabilizer.

Weather

The weather in Sri Lanka is not defined by seasons, but by monsoons. The southwest of Sri Lanka is hit by monsoon from April to September, while the northeast – from November to March. Any time of the year there are areas in the country where it’s not raining and you can enjoy your vacation.

The temperature stays consistent throughout the year at 26-30 C (78-86 F), but might go up even higher in the hottest months around April-May. The temperature goes down once you reach the Hill country.

Photography

Please ask permission before taking photographs of people and respect their wishes if they refuse. Minority groups in particular are often unhappy to have their photo taken. Photographing Buddhist Monks is not taboo but can create awkwardness, so assess the situation and if in doubt ask. Many will also expect a token recompense for allowing themselves to be photographed but we do not recommend.

There are some important restrictions that apply to photography regarding Buddhist imagery. When you visit a temple or other religious site, remember that photography should not be carried out in a manner causing disrespect. For instance, it is strictly forbidden to be photographed in front of or beside any statues and murals. Note that flash photography can damage old murals.

Permits

Tourists who wish to visit and or photograph the principal ancient monuments in Sri Lanka are required to purchase a ticket from the Central Cultural Fund

Central Cultural Fund offices at Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya and Kandy.

A single round ticket for two months validity costs US$50 and will entitle you to visit and photograph historic monuments such as Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya, Nalanda, Ritigala, Medirigiriya. There are separate charges at each site for those who do not obtain round tickets: Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Sigiriya US$25, Nalanda US$5, Ritigala US$8, Medirigiriya US$5.

Entertainment

Entertainment is predominantly, but not exclusively, based around the top hotels, which offer: a range of restaurants and bars; sports facilities, from swimming pools to floodlit tennis courts; health facilities and spas; nightclubs, and traditional Sri Lankan entertainment. However, do not automatically limit yourself to the hotel – in Colombo especially, and in other major tourist areas, there are smaller, independent alternatives. Casinos are sanctioned for tourists.

The beaches are some of the finest in the world, but before you swim consider dangerous currents and cleanliness. Sri Lanka also offers: game parks; activity holidays; bird-watching sanctuaries; hill-walking and outstanding historical and religious sites. There is a wide range of shopping options in the country, including gems, spices, linen and batiks, art galleries and hand-made carvings.

Food and Drink

Rice and curry is the Sri Lankan staple, but a wide range of international dishes are available throughout the island. Bear in mind that purchasing local food and drink supports the locals rather than promoting costly imports. When eating, consider the old advice: ‘boil it, bake it, peel it or ignore it’. Be particularly wary of salads and unpeeled fruit and ensure your meat is thoroughly cooked.

Most importantly, drink and clean your teeth in bottled water only. This can be bought more cheaply from local shops than top hotels, but check that the seal is unbroken. Top hotels also supply flasks of boiled and filtered water. Coconut water is renowned as a settler of a queasy stomach, although some may prefer to take their medicinal coconut in the form of arrack, the local firewater.

Festivals

Sri Lanka has more public holidays than anywhere else in the world, the most common being Poya Day, which occurs every full moon and is important to Buddhists for religious observances. Generally shops and businesses are closed on Poya days, the sale of alcohol and fresh meat is forbidden and entertainment can be restricted. If you would like to buy alcohol in advance of a Poya day, your chauffeur-guide will be able to assist you.

Language and Religion

Sinhala (spoken by more than 80% of the public) and Tamil are the national languages. English is widely spoken and understood in all but the most remote areas. Buddhism is the predominant religion, although Hindus, Muslims and Christians are also prese

People & Culture

Life in Sri Lanka is slow and laidback. The people are never in a hurry for anything and if you are coming from the city or anywhere fast-paced it might be hard to wind down. Take it easy and try not to fill the day with too many activities, you might not get to do all of them with all the eating you will be undertaking.

Sri Lanka’s genuine hospitality to tourists is renowned. Take care to avoid religious offence, however. In particular, respect the Buddhist faith: do not touch a monk, do not pose for photographs on religious statues and remove shoes and socks when entering temples. We recommend that you are as informed as possible about the island before you arrive: read about the religion and culture and learn about local rules and values. Be sensitive to cultural difference. Patience, friendliness and courtesy are highly valued virtues that will win you the respect of many.

Sri Lanka carries so much history that it’s a waste to visit and not learn a bit about it first. Take some time to learn about the Civil War and the Colonial era before that. It’s only been a few years since the war ended and the people of Sri Lanka have had to re-adjust to a non-colonial, post-war life. By knowing a little of what they went through, you will appreciate your time there more.

The two official languages of Sri Lanka are Sinhalese and Tamil, but a lot of people speak English. The more touristy the city, the more people speak English, and also signboards are often in English. But even in the rural area you’ll find someone who’ll be able to help you.