The national airline is SriLankan Airlines (UL)

Other airlines include Singapore, Malaysian, Thai, Cathay Pacific, Qatar, Saudi Arabian, and LTU (Germany).

Departure tax is included in the cost of your ticket.

 

Colombo Bandaranaike (CMB) (Katunayake) is 29km (19 miles) north of the city.

Facilities: Duty-free shop, restaurant, bar, snack bar, banks, post office, tourist information and car hire.

 

The following items may be imported into Sri Lanka by persons over 18 years of age without incurring customs duty:

2 bottles of wine and 1.5l of spirits; a small quantity of perfume and 250ml of eau de toilette.

 
Please note that with effect from April 2006, there is no longer a duty free allowance for tobacco products. Any passenger arriving into Colombo and clearing customs, if having any cigarettes in their possession, will be charged at LKR6000 per carton of cigarettes approximately. (A few packets for personal use only may be allowed.)

Firearms, explosives and dangerous weapons; ivory; antiques, statues and treasures; old books; animals/birds/reptiles (dead or alive) and parts; tea; rubber; coconut plants; dangerous drugs.

(a) Only two members of the same family traveling together are entitled to free import allowances.

(b) Valuable personal effects (including jewelry), must be declared on arrival in Sri Lanka.

(c) There is no gift allowance.

(d) Unused Sri Lankan currency should be reconverted to foreign currency upon departure. You are not permitted to leave Sri Lanka with currency in excess of LKR250

Trains connect Colombo with all tourist towns, but first-class carriages, air conditioning and dining cars are available on only a few. New fast services operate on the principal routes, including an inter-city express service between Colombo and Kandy, otherwise journeys are fairly leisurely.

Traffic drives on the left. Most roads are tarred, with a 56kph (35mph) speed limit in built-up areas and 75kph (45mph) outside towns. Flashing lights mean that the driver is asserting right of way. Avoid remote areas and traveling at night.

Bus: An extensive network of services of reasonable quality is provided by the Sri Lanka Central Transport Board. Private bus drivers are paid according to the number of passengers and can often drive rather dangerously.

Taxi: These have yellow tops and red and white plates. In Colombo, taxis are metered but it is advisable to agree a rate before setting off. Drivers expect a 10 per cent tip.

Car hire: This is available from several international agencies. Air-conditioned minibuses are also available. Motorised rickshaws are also readily available for hire in towns and villages. Chauffeur-driven cars are less expensive and recommended.

Documentation: In order to avoid bureaucratic formalities in Sri Lanka, an International Driving Permit should be obtained before departure. If not, a temporary license to drive is obtainable on presentation of a valid national driving license. This must be endorsed at the AA office in Colombo. The minimum age for driving a car is 18.

 

Shaking hands is the normal form of greeting. It is customary to be offered tea when visiting and it is considered impolite to refuse. Punctuality is appreciated. A small token of appreciation, such as a souvenir from home or company, is always welcomed. Informal, Western dress is suitable, except when visiting Buddhist temples, where modest clothing should be worn (eg no bare legs and uncovered heads). Visitors should be decently clothed when visiting any place of worship, and shoes and hats must be removed. Jackets and ties are not required by men in the evenings except for formal functions when lightweight suits should be worn.

Photography near government or military buildings is prohibited. Homosexuality is illegal. Topless sunbathing is not allowed, and visitors, particularly women, should cover up when entering Buddhist sites. It is considered offensive to pose for photographs in front of a Buddha statue. Smoking and drinking in public are forbidden. Honor, or personal dignity, is extremely important to Sri Lankans and causing an individual to 'lose face' by public criticism or anger should be avoided.

A 10% service charge is added to most restaurant and hotel bills. Tipping is a customary way to show appreciation for almost all services and small amounts are sufficient, otherwise 10% of the amount due is standard. There is no need to tip taxi drivers.

 

Climatically the driest and best seasons are from December to March on the west and south coasts and in the Hill Country, and from May to September on the east coast. December to March is also the time when most foreign tourists come, which is the Winter Season in the Western Countries.

Out of season travel (May – October) is advantageous as it's less crowded and accommodation is comparatively low.

July/August is the time of the Kandy Esala Perahera, the 10-day festival honouring the sacred tooth relic of the Buddha, and also the time for the Kataragama Festival in the South. However take note that during these festivals accommodation prices in both these towns can double and reserved well in advance.

Passport valid for at least six months from date of entry required by all nationals of countries referred to in the chart above.

Visas are issued free of charge for a period of 30 days on arrival at Colombo Airport (for tourist visits only), except the Nationals of Malta and the Slovak Republic who do require a visa.

(a) All business visitors from countries referred to in the chart above require a visa.

(b) Nationals of countries not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements

Tourists, may obtain a visa upon arrival, upon port of entry into Sri Lanka, for up to 30 days. Visitors can request to extend their stay by applying to the Department of Immigration & Emigration. This is issued at the discretion of the authorities who must be satisfied that the applicant has at least US$30 per day for the stay and holds an onward or return ticket for travel.

Working Days Required - At least three.

Tropical climate. Upland areas are cooler and more temperate, and coastal areas are cooled by sea breezes. There are two monsoons, which occur May to July and December to January.

Required Clothing - Lightweights and rainwear.

The average temperature is 24 degrees Celsius

 

Standard foods are spicy and it is advised to approach curries with caution. There are many vegetables, fruits, meats and seafood. Chinese, Continental, Indian and Japanese menus are available in Colombo. A specialty is basic curry, made with coconut milk, sliced onion, green chilli, aromatic spices such as cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon and saffron and aromatic leaves.

Things to know: Alcohol cannot be sold on poya holidays (which occur each lunar month on the day of the full moon).

• Hoppers is a cross between a muffin and a crumpet with a wafer-crisp edge, served with a fresh egg soft-baked on top.

• Stringhoppers are steamed circlets of rice flour, a little more delicate than noodles or spaghetti.

• Jaggery is a fudge made from the crystallised sap of the kitul palm.

• The durian fruit is considered a great delicacy.

• Tea is the national drink and thought to be amongst the best in the world.

• Toddy (sap of the palm tree).

• Arrack (fermented Toddy which comes in varying degrees of strength).

Tipping: Most hotels include a service charge of 10 per cent. Extra tipping is optional.

Nightlife: Some Colombo hotels have supper clubs with music for dancing. There are theaters in Colombo, cinemas showing films from the USA, ballet, concerts and theater productions.

 

Sri Lanka has an enormous range of Buddhist, Hindu, Christian and Muslim festivals. The Kandy Esala Perahera (July/August) is the country's most important and spectacular pageant, with 10 days of torch-bearers, whip-crackers, dancers and drummers, not to mention elephants lit up like giant birthday cakes. It climaxes in a great procession honouring the Sacred Tooth Relic of Kandy. Second in importance is the Duruthu Perahera (January), held in Colombo, which celebrates a visit by Buddha to Sri Lanka.

Other celebrations include National Day (February), which is celebrated with parades, dances and national games; New Year (March/April), celebrated with elephant races, coconut games and pillow fights; Vesak (May), a sacred full moon festival commemorating the birth, death and enlightenment of Buddha; the Hindu Vel festival (July/August) in Colombo, where the ceremonial chariot of Skanda, the God of War, is hauled between two temples; and the predominantly Hindu Kataragama festival (July/August) in Kataragama, where devotees put themselves through a whole gamut of ritual masochism.

 

                         Special Precautions     Certificate Required?
 
Yellow Fever                 No                                1

Cholera                       Yes                                2
 
Typhoid and Polio           3                                N/A
 
Malaria                         4                              N/A
 

Health Care

Treatment is free at government hospitals and dispensaries; 24-hour treatment is available at Colombo General Hospital. Some hotels also have doctors.

1. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travelers over one year of age from infected areas.

2. Following WHO guidelines issued in 1973, a cholera vaccination certificate is not a condition of entry to Sri Lanka. However, cholera is a serious risk in this country and precautions are essential. Up-to-date advice should be sought before deciding whether these precautions should include vaccination as medical opinion is divided over its effectiveness.

3. Typhoid occurs in rural areas.

4. Malaria risk, predominantly in the benign vivax form, exists throughout the year, except in the districts of Colombo, Galle, Kalutara and Nuwara Eliya. The malignant falciparum strain is also present and is reported to be highly resistant to chloroquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine. The recommended prophylaxis is chloroquine plus proguanil.

 

It is suggested that visitors consider short-term health and accident policies from your own insurance company prior to leaving home. As medical evacuations can be extremely costly, we recommend that you take out a comprehensive insurance policy that will cover the costs of a medical evacuation and subsequent medical care.

 

Drink only bottled water of a reputable make and check the top has not been tampered with.

 

Sri Lanka has several shopping malls, including Majestic City, Liberty Plaza, Crescat Boulevard, Odel Unlimited and JAIC Hilton. Some 5-star hotels in Colombo also have shopping arcades. Special purchases include handicrafts and curios of silver, brass, bone, ceramics, wood and terracotta. Also cane baskets, straw hats, reed and coir mats and tea. Batik fabric, lace and lacquerware are also popular. Some of the masks, which are used in dance-dramas, in processions and on festival days, can be bought by tourists. Sri Lanka is also rich in gems. Fabrics include batiks, cottons, rayons, silks and fine lace.

Mon-Sat 0900-1900

Sri Lanka Rupee (LKR) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of LKR 2,000, 1,000, 500, 200, 100, 50, 20 and 10. Coins are in denominations of LKR10, 5, 2, 1, 50 and 25 cents. There are also large numbers of commemorative coins in circulation.

Foreign currency must be changed only at authorized exchanges, banks and hotels, and these establishments must endorse such exchanges on the visitor’s Exchange Control D form, which is issued on arrival and must usually be returned at the time of departure.

American Express, MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted. Diners Club has more limited acceptance.

The rate of exchange for traveller’s cheques is better than the rate of exchange for cash. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travelers are advised to take traveller’s cheques in US Dollars or Pounds Sterling.

Mon-Sat 0900-1300. Some city banks close at 1500, whilst some even have night bank facilities.

 

There are four main network operators on the island; Dialog GSM, Mobitel, Tigo and Hutchison Telecom. It is cheaper to get a mobile phone connection with one of these major companies. All these phone companies have a pay-as-you-go plan where you can buy a local SIM card for around Rs. 1,000 (that will work in GSM phones from Europe, the Middle East and Australasia). You will find recharge cards at any corner store throughout the island.

Majority of the hotels have Internet facilities. If your hotel does not have Internet or email facilities available, ask anybody where you can find a " Tele communication".

 

The majority of Sri Lankans speak Sinhala, with Tamil as the second language. English is commonly used by government and tourism officials. Don't expect everyone, everywhere to be able to speak it fluently. It's much more common in the beach and tourist areas. Most people in rural villages cannot speak any English, beyond a few simple words.

• Sinhala Language The greeting in Sinhala is "aa-yu-BO-wan" It means that "May you live longer"; 'Thank you' is "sthu-thee"

• Tamil Language: The greeting in Tamil is "Vanakkam"; 'Thank you' is "Nanri"

• Sri Lankan Moor: If you meet a Muslim it is polite to say "Assalamu Aliakum" (Arabic); and Thank You "Jaza-ka Alla" (arabic)