Sri Lanka international travel guide

Sri Lanka international travel guide

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Sri Lanka travel details
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Sri Lanka has a population of 21M with main currency as Sri Lankan Rupee. The languages spoken are Sinhala. Sri Lanka travel safety advice is Exercise a high degree of caution. Automatic teller machines are rare in Sri Lanka. Tipping is quite common in Sri Lanka and it's good etiquette to leave one. Internet speed in Sri Lanka is on average 4.8 Mbps.In Sri Lanka you drive on the left side.

Sri Lanka travel advice

Exercise a high degree of caution
We've reviewed our advice for Sri Lanka and continue to advise exercise a high degree of caution. Public demonstrations can occur throughout Sri Lanka and may become violent. Avoid areas impacted by demonstrations. We advise: Exercise a high degree of caution in Sri Lanka due to the threat of public demonstrations and security risks.

Issue Date : May 17, 2024

Sri Lanka weather

Sri Lanka essential details

Plugs

Sri Lanka uses 230V, 50Hz with sockets and plugs Type D and Type G.

Languages

The languages that are typically spoken are Sinhala

Money in Sri Lanka

Currencies

Sri Lanka uses the Sri Lankan rupee (symbol: Rs), code LKR.Banknotes come in denominations of 5000, 2000, 1000, 500, 200, 100, 50, 20 and 10 rupees. Rupee is subdivided into 100 cents. Coins come in denominations of 10, 5, 2 and 1 rupees and 50, 25, 10, 2 and 1 cents.

ATM

Automatic teller machines are rare in Sri Lanka. Your best bet is to look for them in large cities and community places.You do not need a chip & PIN card to use an ATM — your standard magnetic card will work fine.

Tipping

Expected to tip Tipping is quite common in Sri Lanka and it's good etiquette to leave one. How much money you leave depends on the service and how happy you were with it. Receipts usually include a service charge.

Internet in Sri Lanka

Internet

Internet speed in Sri Lanka is on average 4.8 Mbps. WiFi coverage in Sri Lanka is low. It is not as easy to find one.

Phones

You can buy a SIM card for about 479.16 LKR, which includes 6 GB of data plan. You can choose from 5 telecoms: Airtel, Dialog, Etisalat, Hutch or Mobitel. Sri Lanka uses GSM mobile networks GSM 900 and GSM 1800. If you don't want to buy SIM card in Sri Lanka upon arrival, make sure to check the roaming charges with your telecom provider before your departure so there are no surprises when you return home.

Calling

To call Sri Lanka, dial +, then 94 (the country code for Sri Lanka), then the area code (without the initial 0) and the local number. For local calls within Sri Lanka, start with the area code (with the initial 0). In the case above area code is 112 .

Sri Lanka travel details

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Driving in Sri Lanka

Road rules

In Sri Lanka you drive on the left side. Most cars have manual transmission (stick). Unless otherwise posted, the speed limits for cars and motorcycles are as follows: 50 km/h (31 mph) in all built-up areas, 70 km/h (43 mph) on undivided highways, 70-100 km/h (43-62 mph) on motorways and 70-100 km/h (43-62 mph) on expressways.

Emergecy

Universal
112
Police
122
Ambulance
124
Fire department
123

Sri Lanka map

Sri Lanka visa advice

If you're considering exploring Sri Lanka beyond the usual transit spots, our comprehensive guide on Sri Lanka transit visa offers deeper insights and broader options for travelers of different nationalities. For those transiting through other countries en route to Sri Lanka, understanding Sri Lanka Transit Visa requirements is crucial to ensure a smooth journey.
Disclaimer
The information on the site should be used as a guide only you are advised to contact your local official mission consulate embassy and ensure you have the latest information we take no responsibility