Practical guide to visiting Sri Lanka
Visa requirements
All foreign nationals require a visa to enter Sri Lanka, which can be done quickly and easily online. Tourist visas are normally issued for a maximum period of 30 days.
Although it’s still possible to get a tourist visa on arrival, it’s better to get one before you travel in order to avoid delays on arrival.
Medicines and medical care
Do speak with your GP to ensure relevant inoculations are up to date. Hepatitis A and B and Typhoid are the three most commonly recommended. Malaria has now officially been wiped out, though Dengue fever, also spread by mosquitos, is more common. Vaccines against Dengue are still in their infancy so simply taking precautions against mosquito bites is the best route. Do bring anti-mosquito spray and use it often.
Our experience of dealing with hospitals in Sri Lanka is extremely positive. The main private hospitals will offer quick and not-too expensive access to well qualified specialists.
Political risk
There’s really no risk to travellers with regard to the, now much-concluded, civil war. Indeed, many continued to visit at its peak and did so in blissful ignorance of what was going on in other parts of the country.
There are no restrictions on foreigners travelling to Jaffna in the north, what was the epicentre of the conflict. While there’s no risk to personal safety it’s wise to be mindful of the sensitivities around what was a bloody and hugely damaging period.
Money
It’s not possible (as far as we’re aware) to exchange British Pounds, US or Australian Dollars for Sri Lankan Rupees in the UK, USA or Australia but there’s little need to do so. You’ll see a good number of bureaux de change, all vying for your attention, when you come through immigration at Colombo airport. Alternatively, you can simply withdraw cash from the ATMs, either there, or across the island. The vast majority accept international cards for cash withdrawals (People’s Bank being one of the only ones we’ve found that doesn’t).
While your accommodation might be pre-paid, you may need to pay for drinks or extra meals, though, and while the vast majority of our partner hotels and lodges will take card payments, it’s sensible to have some cash with you.
Tipping
The practice of tipping each and every chap who lends a hand, in whatever way, no longer really exists. Don’t feel obliged to open your wallet for every bag carrier at each hotel. Equally, almost every restaurant and bar will add a 10% service charge so, unless you were really happy with the service offered, you shouldn’t feel pressured to add anything on top of the bill.
The same can be said for the hotels you’ll stay at. A lot of our clients do like to offer extra tips at the smaller places. When they ask us we suggest that the equivalent of $10 (around 1,500 Rupees) a day would be very gratefully received. The same amount per day, if he’s been with you for the duration of your trip, would be appropriate for your driver, if you feel he’s gone beyond the call of duty!
Staying in touch
As is the case the world over, hotels tend to offer very good wi-fi now. None of those that we work with will ask you to pay for it. Sri Lanka also has remarkably good mobile phone coverage.
If you wish to regularly check emails or be on social media on the go, you can buy a cheap local SIM card that offer calls and data. Traditional or Micro-SIMs are readily available. We recommend Dialog as the carrier offering the best mobile coverage across the island. There is a Dialog kiosk at the arrival hall of the airport and your driver can help you find it.
Food and drinks
You may well come across blogs or articles singing high praises of Sri Lankan food and all the wonderful restaurants on offer. Just wandering about, you might find the reality a little different. The restaurant scene in Colombo is now pretty strong and Galle Fort boasts a nice selection of little eateries. Kandy remains rather barren on the restaurant front.
Getting around
Tuk Tuks, of course, are a cheaper option, and suitable for shorter journeys. For anything over 40 minutes, a car (or van) is probably advisable. If you know exactly where you’re headed then do try and agree a price in advance. If not, then allow around 300 Rupees for every five minutes of the journey. You’ll inevitably pay a little more than locals but haggling all day long isn’t worth the effort. Metered Tuk Tuks are always cheapest and should be sought out whenever traveling in Colombo.
You’ll quickly realise how many buses charge around the island. They are, in fact, quite a menace and we’d suggest you avoid them. Trains are a better option and can offer great views across otherwise unseen country.
Shopping
Every Sri Lankan town will have its own fruit and vegetable market and some are definitely worth exploring, if only for the sights and smells. The Central Market, just off Market Street in Kandy, is a classic example. Few towns offer anything much smarter but Colombo now has a growing number of small boutiques. The likes of the Paradise Road and Urban Island cater for those after interiors inspiration and One Galle Face mall and Colombo City Centre Shopping Centre (the only Western style “shopping malls” in Sri Lanka) are a good bet for fashion-related buys.
The Galle Fort is teeming with independent stores selling very trendy things – a lot of them are spin-offs from funky little hotels. A favourite spot of ours is ‘Stick No Bills’ on Church Street, selling vintage posters and cards.
For presents to take home we’re yet to find a place better than Barefoot. It has two large stores, one in Colombo and one inside the Galle Fort. It sells all manner of colourful things – clothes, materials, books, toys, bags. It’s all great stuff.
Sri Lanka, of course, has a great gem industry and you’ll see a range of stores, from small boutiques to huge multi-storey emporiums. One of our most trusted is Tiesh, which has large outlets in Kandy and Colombo. Colombo Jewellery Stores also runs a very reputable operation.
The spice gardens are also a traditional tourist attraction, selling a huge range of oils and Ayurvedic medicines. We’re open-minded and will let you make your own judgment on their merits!
Language and culture
Sri Lanka is, in most parts, a passionately Buddhist country. The majority of the country (some 70%) practices Theravada Buddhism and many see Sri Lanka as the heartland of the religion – much like Jerusalem is for Judaism, or Mecca for Islam. Of course, there is a strong Hindu (Tamil) population, largely in the north and in the hills in the centre, and the island’s Muslim population has grown rapidly (supposedly to around 10% of the country) in recent years. There is a small minority Christian population.
Fairly obvious considerations apply with regard to dress. At temples you may be checked and will be required to wear clothes that cover shoulders and legs. Away from the beach and the pool it’s courteous to avoid anything too racy.
The country’s strong religious practice can have some impact on visitors. On Poya days, holidays celebrated each month at the full moon, no shops or bars will (legally) serve alcohol. Similar restrictions apply on a number of other religious holidays. Do check local calendars if you’re planning a big celebration during your time here.
The Buddhist majority speak Sinhalese, with Tamil being the second official language. For non-speakers the two are practically indistinguishable. In the island’s more touristy parts and in most of Colombo, there’s a fair degree of English spoken.
