Useful Tourist Information About Sri Lanka

Location & size

It is known as the Pearl of the Indian Ocean and is a tear-drop shaped island off the south-east coast of India, lying just north of the Equator. It has an area of approximately 65,000 sq.km. Its terrain is mostly low, flat to rolling plains with mountains in the central south interior. Its highest point is Pidurutalalagala at 2,524m with Adams Peak (Sri Pada) being 2,243m high. Its longest river is the Mahaweli River at 335km long. It has a huge range of topographic features making it one of the most scenic places in the world.

Sri Lanka's history

There have been a wide range of influences over the island. It has a recorded history of over 2,500 years. In ancient times, it was known as Taprobane by the Ancient Greeks, Serendib by the Arabs, Ceilao by the Portuguese, which then became known as Ceylon by the British. It finally became the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka in 1948. (Lanka coming from the Sanskrit name, meaning "resplendent land" which was how the Island was described in the Indian Epic "Ramayana").The earliest peoples were ancestors of the Wanniyala-Aetto people known as the Veddahs, descendants of which, live on the edge of the Knuckles Range in the centre of the Island.

Sri Lankan population

The population is approximately 20 million made up as follows:-Sinhalese 74%, Tamil 8%, Muslim 7%, Burghers (descendants of Dutch & Portuguese) & Veddahs 1%.

Religions in Sri Lanka

Buddhists - 67% of the population, Hindus - 15% of the population, Christians - 8% of the population, Muslims - 8% of the population.

Languages spoken

Sinhala is the official language, Tamil is spoken by 18% of the population. English is used as a second language.

Currency used

1 Sri Lankan Rupee consists of 100 cents. 175 Rupees is worth approximately £1.00  (Oct 2009)

Public Holidays in 2012

Bank opening times

Banks are generally open 9am to 1pm or 3pm Mon-Fri. 24hr facilities at airport.  All banks are shut at weekends and public holidays.  ATMs accepting Visa and Mastercard are widely available in cities and towns.

Credit card acceptability

Most international credit cards are accepted at major establishments including almost all major hotels.

Driving in Sri Lanka

Vehicles keep to the left. An international driving licence is required. A local driving licence is also required which can be obtained from the AA in Colombo.

Electricity on the Island

230/240 volts AC. Small 3 pin round plugs are used as well as 2 pin plugs.

Entry Regulations to visit Sri Lanka

All nationalities require a full passport that must be valid for 6 months beyond the intended length of stay. A free 30 day Visa is obtained on arrival for most nationalities. A 60 day extension can be requested (variable fee) at the Dept. of Immigration and Emigration in Colombo. It is your responsibility to have the correct personal documents and obtain your Visa, if necessary.

You now need to obtain an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) prior to your visit to Sri Lanka. You can apply  online ETA by visiting the following website: www.eta.gov.lk. The ETA is only valid for 90 days from the date you apply, so dont apply too early. The ETA is initially limited to 30 days from the date of arrival and it may be extended up to six months.
The charges are:
20 US$ for a double entry tourist visit,
Under 12s - free
Transit up to 2 days - free

What to wear in Sri Lanka

Light cotton or linen clothing. It can be chilly in the hill country at night, so a sweater/microfleece is recommended. Shoulders and knees must be covered to enter temples.

Your health & safety in Sri Lanka

Please do remember that Sri Lanka is a third world country and their health and safety is very different to that of the West. In particular:
  -  hotels are not legally obliged to install 'toughened' or safety glass in their windows and doors
  -  be aware of the height of balconies and their rails
  -  at high viewpoints such as Sigiriya, World's End etc, there are no guardrails at the edge (extreme caution is required)
  -  swimming pool safety - children to be accompanied at all times, do not drink alcohol when swimming and do not take glasses to the pool
  -  swimming on the beach -  as above and do be aware there are strong currents in Sri Lanka
  -  care crossing the road - the traffic is very unpredictable in Sri Lanka and buses and lorries will often not give way to pedestrians! 

Terrorism - fact vs fiction (updated Oct 09)

For more than 25 years now, Sri Lanka has had a conflict with the LTTE who want a separate state for the Tamils in the North and East of the country.  A lot has been written in the press in the UK as to how dangerous it is to travel to Sri Lanka.  In recent months the Tamils have been overthrown and following visits from Sue and information on the ground from Roshan, our island guide, Sri Lanka is safer now than it has ever been.  It should be remembered that, throughout the conflict, not one single tourist has been injured or killed.

Vaccination requirements

Please consult your doctor for up to date information before you travel.

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