Travel Information
It has been announced that with effect from 1st January 2012, all foreign travellers to Sri Lanka must have Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) when stepping into Sri Lankan soil. Even though applications for ETA can be requested through third parties, the applicable payments are to be made through www.eta.gov.lk. If you have made payments to another party other than www.eta.gov.lk please do note that it is not the correct procedure for obtaining a valid ETA.
What to wear?
Cotton clothing is best recommended due the hot climate of Sri Lanka. But if you are planning to wander amidst the blue hills of the central highlands pack up, woollen clothing to keep yourself warm and cuddled. Apart from climatic necessities, when you are visiting a place of worship, you will have to wear modest light coloured clothing.
Photo Permits
There are certain places where you will need special permits in photographing highly valuable archaeological sites, while some places advice you on certain limitations of capturing the object in topic due to preservation procedures. (You’ll be advised of the photography limitations by the authorized personal at the premises) Having said that, being a nation that is immersed in Buddhism, please care to note that taking pictures in front of Lord Buddha statue (facing your back to the statue) is considered disrespectful by the locals.
Banks
They are open from 0900hrs – 1500hrs Monday to Friday, while some branches of the banks are open Saturday Morning. Apart from that ATMs are spread across island wide for your monitory emergencies.
Credit cards
Majority of the business entities allow credit card transactions.
Time difference
Sri Lanka Standard Time is 5 ½ hrs ahead of GMT
Language
While Sinhala and Tamil become the chief languages in Sri Lanka, English is commonly used for better interactions with different communities.
Authentic Food / Rice and Curry
When you’re visiting Sri Lanka give it a try to local, authentic foods and street food. Sri Lankan Food culture is a mix of different cultures. Rice and Curry is the most basic meal for most of Sri Lankans which they have as a main course. You can have steamed or boiled rice with fish or meat curry with vegetable curries and fruit curries (Mango Curry / Ambarella Curry is divine!) However, you should keep in mind usually Sri Lankan curries are rich in spices, hot and tangy. If you think you can’t tolerate spicy food always go for mild curries and you can basically have a decent rice and curry anywhere in the country. If you can eat Rice and Curry by your right hand rather than using cutlery you’ll delight your local hosts as well as bonding with them.
Some other culinary options that are available for you to try are, Seasonal fruits, Curd and Treacle, Local Beverages, Kottu, Roti, Pittu, String Hoppers, Hoppers, Naan, Helapa, Coconut and Honey Pancakes mostly originated from rice, whole-wheat flour coconut, wheat and lentils.
Alcohol
You will see that there are so many wine stores in every major city/ town Sri Lanka, even though it says “wine” store, it mostly sells spirits, arrack and beers that also mostly Sri Lankan ones. If you want good branded wine and spirits you can always go to a super markets with a bar which is quite cheaper than the ones they sell at hotels and restaurants.
All the Sri Lankan bars and wine stores are closed on Poya days as a tradition but that doesn’t mean you cannot have a small drink and have a good time, just make sure you buy it day before the Poya day.
Sri Lankan Currency
We use Sri Lankan Rupee as our local currency, which is denominated as LKR and Rs. For user convenience Currency Notes are being issued up to the highest value Rs. 5,000, where Rs.2,000, Rs.1,000, Rs.500, Rs.100, Rs.50, Rs.20 and Rs.10 follows the king of notes. Currency coins are issued for Rs. 10, Rs.5, Rs.2 and Rs.1. Though at present, cents are rarely used, you will occasionally have to use cents 25 and cents 50 coins if you want to settle the transaction precisely to the last cent. Whatever said and done, in order to avoid uncomfortable moments, make sure you are well stocked with change, especially if you are using public transportation.
Foreign Currency Regulations
If you are bringing more than US$10,000, please declare the total sum to the customs up on arrival. When returning to your homeland, all unspent rupees can be converted to the original currency state as long as you have the encashment receipts.
Health Measures
To enjoy the best of Sri Lanka holidays, please make sure you are immunized and well protected against the following
Hepatitis A
Essential
Typhoid
Essential
Polio
For any grown-up traveller, who has completed the childhood Polio vaccination series, but did not get a chance to receive the Polio vaccination as an adult, we highly recommend for you to do so.
Yellow fever
Compulsory for all travelers who are above one year of age, travelling from a Yellow-fever-infected area.
Japanese encephalitis
If you are hoping to spend your time in Sri Lanka in rural areas, the best advice is that you should be immunized against Japanese encephalitis.
Hepatitis B
Essential
Rabies
Stray dogs and cats are a common sight in Sri Lankan roads, though majority of them are quite innocent, they’ll be one or two who might be infected with rabies. If you have been bitten by an infected animal, wash the wound thoroughly, and rush to the nearest hospital.
Measles, mumps and rubella(MMR)
Essential
Tetanus-diphtheria
Essential
General Health Concerns
Drinking
Tap water is a big no. You should always boil and filter water. Due to the hustle and bustle hotels and restaurant may not properly go through with this procedure therefore its best recommended to help yourself with crystal clear bottled water (make sure the seal is still on). Other than that, help yourself to a King Coconut (in Sinhala we call it “Thambili”) from a street vendor. It’s a refreshing taste, and if you want something revitalizing why not sip a cup of Pure Ceylon Tea?
Sunburn
Sri Lanka is only 600km away from the equator. Therefore bring your whole sun protection gear, when you feel like sun bathing and even with that limit it to specific time, before you get extremely sun burnt.
Heatstroke
You can experience it if you are not too careful, because it is a condition which occurs when the heat-regulating mechanism is over heated and there is no way to cool it off. If you are spending too much time in the sun, please make sure you are well hydrated, by drinking plenty of water. The symptoms are throbbing headache, light-headedness, cramps, rapid heartbeat, and behavioural changes such as confusion, disorientation which can even go up to seizures.
Mobile Phone Data
If you are planning on exploring our island for a few days or weeks, you will surely want to make some calls and share your experiences on social media despite of your current location, although every hotel provide WI-FI, most of the WI-FI provided in the public places aren’t that strong, so we recommend the tourists to purchase a SIM card from the airport itself. There are attractive packages starting from $10 where you get around 9 GB and calls worthy of Rs. 350, which will allow you to access any website, social media as your heart desires. Recommended service providers, Dialog, Mobitel …
Nightlife
If you want to have a walk at the night Colombo is the most recommended city for it. Sea breeze from Galle Face Green surrounded by pubs, restaurants, night clubs and casinos are there to accompany you for an unforgettable night. Here’s some of amazing places you can have fun;
Bally’s Casino
Casino Marino Colombo
Stardust Casino
Bellagio Colombo
Rhythm and Blue
Jims Poker Room
Cleopatra Night Club
Tap House
Safety
In general the threats to personal security for travelers in Sri Lanka are remarkably small. It is more pleasant to travel with a companion as it is advised not to travel alone especially after dark. The island including the North and East is safe to visit. If you have anything stolen, report it to the tourist Police, ( a special tourist police set up to look after the needs of the tourists. Contact Tel Number + 94 11 2382209
Sri Lanka Covid 19 Travel Regulations and things to know when visiting Sri Lanka – Updated on 27th October 2021
Welcome back to the paradise island of Sri Lanka. As we open our doors to the world once again; we’ve pulled out all the stops, ensuring that every precautionary measure has been set in place to make your island getaway as safe, secure and serene as possible. In your preparation to explore the wonderful Sri Lanka, we’d like to bring your attention to the ‘things you need to know’ for your safety as you make your way to an amazing time that is So Sri Lanka! We are so looking forward to welcoming you!
SRI LANKA TRAVEL PROTOCOL UPDATED ON 27TH OCTOBER 2021
Full Vaccinated traveller route
- Have taken both vaccines and 14 days have passed after the 2nd vaccine.
- Arrive in Sri Lanka with a negative PCR report which is not older than 72 hours. No PCR requirement on the ground.
Non-vaccinated Traveller route – In a Bio Bubble
- Travelers who have taken only one vaccination are considered Non-vaccinated
- Arrive in Sri Lanka with a negative PCR report which is not older than 72 hours. (No on arrival visa is issued) You need to apply for visa before arrival and pay for PCR tests and Covid 19 Insurance)
- Stay in a Level 1 safe & secure hotels under the Bio Bubble concept for the first night. All travellers above 12 years undergo a PCR test on the day of arrival, at the hotel. Until your PCR result arrives, you are confined to your hotel room and all meals will be served to the room. (Children between the ages of 2 to 12 years will be exempted from on-arrival PCR.)
- If the PCR test result is negative, you are free to use the hotel’s facilities and come out of the room. You are free to stay in any number of Level 1 hotels in the island within the first 15 days and visit only approved tourist sites within the Bio Bubble concept.
- On day 14, all travellers above 2 years need to undergo the 2nd PCR test. If negative, you can exit the Bio bubble after completion of 13 nights/14 days and travel freely in the community. A discharge certificate will be issued before the check out on Day 14
Vaccinated Parents and Non-vaccinated children
- All travellers above 2 years need to arrive in Sri Lanka with a negative PCR report which is not older than 72 hours irrespective of their vaccination status.
- Unvaccinated children at the age of 2 to 12 years of age and vaccinated adults no needs to PCR tests on the ground.
- Unvaccinated children at the age of 12 to 18 years of age need to undergo an on-arrival PCR test at the first hotel.
Visa for non-vaccinated travellers
When travellers apply for Visa, they need to send us (Your Safe & Secure Travel Agent or the Destination Management Company) the Visa reference number. We then attest the visa application by sending a document to the Immigration authority. Then the visa and Covid 19 insurance policy will be granted. There will be no On Arrival Visa issued. Apply for visa using government visa portal here. (No on arrival visa)
Visa for fully vaccinated travellers and their non-vaccinated children – Apply for visa using government visa portal here. (No on arrival visa)
- PCR and Covid 19 Insurance – We will take care of everything. So, no worry for travellers. (40$ per person per PCR, 12$ per person for Covid 19 insurance). Covid 19 insurance is mandatory for non-vaccinated travellers and not mandatory for fully vaccinated travellers & their non-vaccinated children.
- What is covered in Covid 19 insurance – All medical expenses for Covid 19 matters such as hospitalization, medical tests, medicines, ambulance transfers Etc. ?
- Level 1 safe & secure hotels – Hotels mean only for foreign travellers who are travelling in Bio Bubble.
- When tested positive – You will be transferred to immediate care center or an approved hospital for treatments. All expenses of this matter will be covered by the Covid 19 insurance policy up to US$ 50,000/- for a one month period, including children below 2 years.
- Approved tourist sites – Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Peradeniya Botanical Garden, Mirijjawela Botanical Garden, Dambulla Rock cave temple, Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, Ridiyagama Safari Park, Sigiriya Fortress, Polonnaruwa, Yala National park, Minneriya National park, Udawalawe National park, Horton Plains National park, Mirissa, Sinharaja, Hurulu Forest Park, Udawatta Kale
