Frequently Asked Questions

 

What can I buy in Sri Lanka?

Beside the traditional tea, gems and spices and cultural artifacts, tourists can buy some of the most attractively priced garments and crisp linen in Sri Lanka, household items, furniture and other fancy items.

 

What is the best season for beaches?

The best time to visit the South West coast is from November to April. The best time to visit the North West is during May to October as the monsoon falls from May to October ( South West monsoon ) and December to March ( North East Monsoon ). There are also 2 inter monsoon periods in SL from March to Mid may and from October to November.

 

Are credit cards accepted?

Many hotels and shops accept reputed credit cards. No surcharge should be permitted for its use. Cash advances are possible against credit cards in certain banks.

 

Do I need a visa to come to SL?

78 Countries can enter Sri Lanka as holiday makers without prior visa and remain 30 days without a payment. This one month visa can be easily extended to 3 months by visiting the department of immigration and emigration. Diplomatic passport holders in cuba and diplomatic and official passport holders in Mauritius and Liechtenstein can get exempted. For more information on fees visit http://www.immigration.gov.lk/html/visa/fees.html

 

Do I need vaccinations before I come to Sri Lanka ?

Before traveling you should ensure that you are upto date with the standard vaccinations such as Diptheria, Tetanus, hepatiis A and polio. Other jabs you might consider are tuberculosis, meningitis and typhoid. Most importantly you should have adequate protection against malaria.

 

How are the road facilities in SL?

Sri Lanka has a good network of roads. Connecting all principal towns and places of tourist interest. However some of the roads facilities in the remote areas have not been maintained.

 

How can I hire vehicles?

Hiring a vehicle offers you unlimited flexibility. Most of these drivers represent travel companies, This means that you and your drivers opinion may not always coincide as to where you want to stay and what you want to do, as they will want to put up in places that they get discounts. It is very easy to have a vehicle with a driver. The price of the vehicle with a driver is approx. Rs. 30/- per km. A long trip from Colombo to Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Galle and back to Colombo cover approx. 1000km.

 

How can I purchase duty free products?

Sri Lanka has a large variety of goods at BIA duty free shops. Only people who possess a entry & departure permit can purchase these goods

 

How much do I have to pay as Airport Tax?

Prior to departure, a amount of Rs. 1000/- needs to be paid. It is usually added onto the airline ticket

 

What about International Direct Dialling (IDD) facilities?

International Direct Dialling (IDD) telephone Services are readily available through your hotel, or from the roadside public payphones situated in all parts of Colombo and its Suburbs, and also in several provincial towns, too. There are card-operated payphones as well. The phone cards are easily obtainable from shops. The minimum cost of a phone card is 100/-. When touring, it is best to obtain a phone-card before setting out.

 

What are the prohibited export and import items?

Corals, Ivory, antiques, living plants, reptiles and living animals are prohibited. Precious stones could be carried with a permit. If you want to export antiques more than 50 years you will need the authorization from both the director of the National Archives, and the Director General of the Archeological department.

 

What are the banking hours and facilities in Sri Lanka?

Banks keep increasingly flexible hours to suit customer conveninence. All banks are open from 0900hrs to 1300 hrs Monday to Friday. Some city banks close at 15.00 hrs while some others have night banking facilities too. Banks are closed on Saturdays and Sundays, all Public Holidays and on Special bank holidays (June 30th and December 31st). Banking facilities have grown and widened tremendously to cope with the sophisticated needs of today. Sri Lankan and foreign banks provide an expanding range of services to investors. The banks at the International Airport operates 24 hours a day at departure and arrival as well as at some private banks. Banks keep increasingly flexible hours to suit customer convenience.

 

What are the customs formalities that I have to follow ?

Visitors are required to re-produce articles brought in as personal items. Make sure that you take back cameras and photographic equipment and any transistor radios, recorders and sound equipment declared on arrival. The custom check is usually oral. However, random examinations of baggage are carried out.

 

What are the entrance permits required to visit places in Sri Lanka ?

Tourists who wish to visit or photograph the principal ancient monuments in Sri Lanka are required to obtain a ticket from the Central Cultural Fund. A single round ticket for two months validity will cost US $ 50 or US$25 for each site per person. This will entitle the holder to: 1. View historic monuments in Sri Lanka (except Dambulla, Dalada Maligawa & Isurumuniya Temples) 2. Photograph monument or religious places 3. Enter all archaeological museums. There will be separate charges at each site for those who do not obtain round tickets. The cost of entry tickets to Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa or Sigiriya is Us $ 20 per adult and half rate per child per site, while to Kandy museum is US$ 12/-, Dalada Maligawa US$ 3.50, Nalanda US$ 5/-, Ritigal US$ 5/-, Medirigiriya US$ 8/- (accepted in rupees value per adult and half rate per child). Tickets are available at the office of the Central Cultural Fund Office, 11 Independence Avenue Colombo 07, or at the Central Cultural Fund. 21 2/1, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 07. Tel: 2587912, 500733, 581944 or Central Cultural Fund Project offices at Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya and Kandy.

 

What are the languages used in SL ?

English is widely used. But the official languages are Sinhala and Tamil.

 

What are the postal charges?

For information on postal rates contact the General Post Office, Janadhipathi Mawatha, Colombo 1. Tel:+9411 232 6203. Cost of postage for per postcard is Rs. 18/- . Sending upto 2 Kg by resgistered airmail costs about US$20 to the UK , US$30 to the US.

 

What is the currency used In Sri Lanka?

Sri Lanka has a decimal currency system. One Sri Lankan rupee is divided into 100 Sri Lankan Cents. Currency notes are in the denominations of Rs. 10/-, Rs. 20/-, Rs. 50/- Rs. 100/- , Rs. 500/- and Rs. 1000 and Rs. 2000/- Denominations are clearly marked in figures on both sides of the notes and stated in English addition to Sinhala and Tamil. Coins commonly in use are of the following denominations: 25 cents, 50 cents. one Rupee, two Rupees, five Rupees and ten Rupees.

 

What is the standard voltage used In Sri Lanka?

230-240 volts. 50 cycles A.C

 

Where is Sri Lanka situated?

In the South - Eastern Cost of India, 880 km North of the equator in the Indian Ocean. 12 hours flying time from Europe.

 

Who can enter the Airport?

Entry to the Bandaranaike International Airport, Katunayake, is restricted to all visitors. Only embarking passengers are permitted. The same rule applies to those waiting to meet incoming passengers. Usually there is also a vehicle-parking. For a car it is Rs. 100/- and Rs. 150/- for a van.

 

Why is Sri Lanka so special?

Sri Lanka is a unique island. Its wide bio-diversity is within an area of 65.525 sq.km. The island of Ceylon is a small universe; it contains as many variations of culture, scenery, and climate as some countries a dozen times its size. …..But if you are interested in people, history, nature, and art - the things that really matter - you may find, as I have, that a lifetime is not enough. (Clarke in The View from Serendib, 1977)