Sri Lanka Overview

• Warm and fine, Average temperature around 27’ C in Colombo and as low as 10’C in the hill country. Island has no off season and it has only two wet seasons in May – July in South West as well as December – January in North East. Bright sunny warm days are common in rainy days and sea temperature is around 27’C.

• Around 20.6 million, 75% Sinhala, 12% Tamil, balance others. Literacy rate 90.1%

• Mainly Buddhism , also Hinduism, Islam, & Christianity. Where ever you go, you have a place to worship based on your religion.
•  

• English is understood in all parts of the Island. Places, names, signboards are written in English. English is one of the official languages in the country.
•  

• Sri Lanka is 5 ½ hours ahead of Greenwich

• Filtered, mineral and bottled water are available. The yellow king coconut is a popular drink instead of water. The most popular drink is hot cup of plain tea.

• The Sri Lanakan rupee is the official currency. Sri Lanka has a decimal currency system. One Sri Lankan rupee is divided in to 100 cents. Rs 10/-, Rs 20/- , Rs 50/- Rs 1000/- Rs 500/- Rs 2000/- & Rs 5000/- are the main currency notes and coins are 50 cents , 1 rupee , 2 rupee , 5 rupee and 10 rupee. Exchange rates are applied to all bills paid in foreign currency at hotels, travel agents or shops. Certain shops are licensed to transact business in foreign currency only.

• Visitors who bring more than US $ 10000 should declare the amount to the customs.

• Many hotels and shops accept reputed credit cards. No surcharge should be allowed .Cash advances are possible against credit cards in certain banks.

• Banking facilities have grown and widened greatly Sri Lankan and foreign banks provide an escalating range of facilities for all. All banks open from 0900 hrs-1500hrs during the whole week except on Sunday and special holidays. But some banks are opening for all 365 days of the year with night banking facilities too.

• Nationals of over 24 countries are excused from visa necessities. The visa they obtain at the point of entry is formally valid only for 30 days. Government will take actions against visitors who overstay and hotels, guest houses who gave permission to stay these people will also be liable for this. For more information, please contact, The Department of Emigration and Immigration, Ananda Rajakaruna Mw, Maradana , Colombo 10, Sri Lanka . Tel: 094-5389000 /5329316/20/21/25. In addition to that most photo graphic studios provide urgent passport size photos for visa and other requirements.

• Entry to the Colombo International air port, Katunayake , is restricted except for embarking passengers . If you want to meet an incoming passenger you need to buy a ticket.

• This is Rs 1500/- at the Airport, included in the ticket and this will be based on subject to change.

• There are some shop available in the Departure and Transit Launch at the Banadaranayake International air port which sells ceramics , gems , handicraft , batiks , cut flowers , books and picture postcards of Sri Lanka . Well known brands of liquor, hi fi equipments, cosmetics etc, Payment is accepted only in foreign currency.Purchase made in Sri Lanka out of foreign currency brought in can be exported duty free up to certain limits.

• If you wish to take a photograph of principle ancient monuments in SriLanka , you will have to buy a ticket from the central cultural Fund . You images will not be done in a manner causing disregard to the shrines or monuments. Posing of models in front of statues and paintings is prohibited. A single round ticket for two month validity will cost $50. But still you can buy separate tickets for each site.

• All visitors to Buddihist and Hindu temples are expected to be remove shoes and uncover your head. Sun and beach wear, shrines, briefs, shorts, bare shoulders ande.

• Light weight cotton, dip dry wash suits are the most suitable and comfortable wearing for sri Lanaka. Slippers or saddles are more suitable than shoes. Intermediate weight jeans and pullovers will be needed for hill country visits.

• Alcoholic drinks are freely available in public bars, restaurants, wine shops, stores and super markets. All are refraining from selling alcohol on poya days.

• Saturday and Sunday are considering as public holydays. Full moon poyaday is also a public holyday which comes every after 28 days. There are some special public holidays for new year festival, Christmas etc… Hotels make special arrangements for customers to order their drinks the day before the payaday.

• Sri Lanka has state owned two television channels and one radio station. There are so many privet television and radio stations .Also there are some weekly & daily news papers which are published in Sinhala, Tamil and English medium.

Land phones

• Colombo and most provincial towns are linked by direct dial telephone service. Each provincial exchange has a separate code number. So when dialing provincial you need to add the code number first.

Mobile

• There are five mobile service providers in sri Lanaka with island wide coverage. You can buy a sim card around $2-5, if you need to use a mobile during your staying in Sri Lanka.

Courier

• DHL , FedEx , Aramex , TNT international Express , Thomas Cook are the main courier service provides in Sri Lanka .

Postal

• Sri Lanka has a wide covered postal services and this is totally owned by the government of Sri Lanka .

• This is up to you. If you are satisfied with the service you can leave tip. If you wish to give a tip, about 10% of the bill is generally a fair tip.

• 230-240 Volts 50Cyles A.C

• Purchase and export any wild animal, reptile or bird in death (skins, horns, scales, feathers) or alive without a license is illegal. Occasionally permissions are granted for scientific purposes only. It is prohibited to export over 450 plants species without special permission.

• No antiques are books, palm leaf manuscripts are restricted to export.

• Tea Ceylon Tea is considered the best in the world.  It is sold everywhere in the country. Tea can be the best gift to buy from your last Sri Lankan rupee and that will be the best gift from your friends or family.

• A wide range of precious gems as well as jewellery   both handcrafted and machine made are available for foreigners in approved shops. Retain some of your hotel and shopping receipts, specially for gems. This will make your custom clearance easy on your exit.

• Do not carry death by law and effect types drugs