Maps of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is a tiny little island in the Indian ocean. Here is a map of Sri Lanka

 

News

Links to latest Sri Lankan online news resources

News sources include the Lakehouse publications Daily News and Sunday Observer, Sunday Leader, The Island and the Sunday Times, also included links to international news wires such as BBC and CNN South Asia Service. 

Local Newspapers and magazines

 

Local News services on the web

 

International News Service

All logos, brand names and trademarks are property of respective registered owners

Weather

Due to its proximity to the equator Sri Lanka has a tropical climate. There are no marked seasons. The weather in plains and the coastal areas are hot and humid with an average mean temperature of 27° C. Relative Humidity varies from 70% during the day to 90% at night. The cooling sea breeze moderates the temperature. The hills are cool and pleasant with an average mean temperature of around 20° C.

Most of the country has an abundant or moderate rainfall that is well distributed throughout the year. The southwestern coast and mountain slopes are the wettest regions and here rainfall is greatest during the periods April to June and October to November.

Annual average temperature
	Jan-April		May-August		Sept-Dec
	Max	Min	Max	Min	Max	Min
Colombo	30ºC	22ºC	30ºC	24ºC	29ºC	22ºC
Kandy	31ºC	17ºC	29ºC	21ºC	28ºC	18ºC
Nuwara Eliya	21ºC	14ºC	18ºC	16ºC	18ºC	15ºC
Trincomalee	32ºC	24ºC	33ºC	25ºC	33ºC	23ºC

Festivals & Celebrations

Sri Lanka is a country rich in culture and history and the people of Sri Lanka love to find reasons to celebrate. We have highlighted some of the festivals, so that you can sample the Sri lankan culture during your visit
 

January

 

 The colorful Thai Pongal Festival celebrated by the Hindu devotees of Sri Lanka is celebrated on 14 of January

The houses are adorned in colourful kolam, intricate drawings done on the floors using flour. Special Pujas (prayer ceremonies) are held in Kovils to worship the Sun God. It is customary to cook the Pongal meal and share it with neighbors, especially non-hindus

February

 

Independence Day

 

Sri lanka acquired independence in 1948 on 04 th February. There are many celebrations around the country on this special holiday and the main one is usually in Parliamentary grounds in Sri Jayawardhanapura and is attended by politicians, diplomats etc.

Maha Sivarathri

 

This important religious festival is held end February or beginning March. Poojas are held through out the country all night and vigils are held in the households.

Gangaramaya Navam Perahera

 

All visitors to the Capital during this period can experience the perahera and witness the colourfully dressed elephants and musicians and dancers parading in the streets of Colombo.

April

 

Sinhala and Tamil New Year

 

Celebrated by all Sinhalese and Tamils, the traditional New Year celebrations fall on between 12 to 14 April and is the celebration of Sun God's passage from Pisces to Aries. It is a harvest thanksgiving and is mainly celebrated by the villagers in true traditional style. A colourful and extravagant festival, this season is usually a holiday for the whole country. The Aluth Avurudu (New Year) is a time for friendships and family and many traditions are observed according to the litha (A strological time). New clothes are worn, milk boiled and traditional ricemilk with sweets fill the tables. The youth spend the day engaged in various traditional games such as climbing a greased poll, pillow fighting, breaking a pot blindfolded and the girls plating swinging. The women also fill the air with Raban padha ( traditional drum instrument) dressed in their new year costume. 

 

Easter

 

Celebrated by Catholics around the country but mainly in the coastal area around Kandana, Negombo etc., The crucification of Christ is acted- out for three hours and is a touchy experience taking you to the mountain of Golgotha.

May

 

Wesak

 

Wesak , the most hallowed of Buddhist festivals commemorating the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha is held on the full moon day in May and the day following it. Starting at dawn, Buddhists dressed in white start to make their way to the temple to observe sila , in which they spend the day meditating, reading religious texts, and listening to sermons. At night the temples are crowded with devotees bringing flowers and offerings. Nevertheless, Wesak is a joyous occasion and is celebrated with verve and imagination. Among the many striking decorations are intricate Wesak paper lanterns of different shapes and sizes, and the thousands of little clay coconut oil lamps ( pol-thel pahana ) that flicker throughout the island.

In Colombo the celebrations are unsurpassed. Enormous pandals (bamboo frameworks) hung with pictures depicting events in the life of the Buddha are erected in the streets, illuminated by a myriad of flashing coloured electric light bulbs. Another special feature of Wesak are the danselas (alms booths). These are temporary sheds, set up by the roadside with tables and chairs by local people, at which food and refreshment are given free to sightseers and pilgrims. In addition, puppet shows and open-air theatre performances telling Buddhist tales are held throughout the island.

July

 

The Esala Perahera in Kandy

 

One of the most glamorous cultural processions in the world. The procession takes place on 10 consecutive nights, where the first six nights are known as Kumbal perahera and the last four nights is the much more glamorous Randoli perahera with the final night having a 100 elephants adorned in elegant costumes parading. The event is celebrated once a year since the 3 rd century AD to allow pilgrims to pay homage to the Sacred Tooth Relic carried by the Diyawadana Nilame, selected to be the trustee of the temple. The event is made colourful and vivid with many dancers and instrument players parading

August

 

Madhu Festival and the Feast of St. Anne

 

Celebrated by Catholics, The Madhu and the St Annes church are known to have miracle statues. Devotees visit the pilgrimage site and spend time in prayer while overnight sleep is in the camping site outside the church.

Vel

 

If you happen to be in Colombo at the time of the Esala Perahera in Kandy, do make a note to see the religious celebrations of the Hindus, held in Colombo, another procession where the God of war carries his Vel (trident weapon) from the Muthuvinayagam Swami Kovil in Sea Street, Pettah, to the Kathiresan in Bambalapitiya or Wellawatte. You can observe the fetival during the day, if you're on Galle Road between Pettah and Bambalapitiya.

November

 

Deepavali

 

This is the beginning of the financial year for the Hindu business community. The Goddess of wealth is welcomed to homes decorated with kolam and lit with lamps.

December

 

Christmas

 

The month of Christmas is a high trading month in Colombo where people are preparing of Christmas and New Year celebrations. Christmas is mainly glamorous in Colombo and the coastal catholic areas, where the birth of Christ is celebrated with crackers, mid-night mass, family gatherings and joyous sharing with the poor.

People

The majority of Sri Lankans are Sinhalese, accounting to 74% of the population in the country. Proud of a rich and long history, dating back to over 2000 years, the Sinhalese community mainly inhabits in the central, west and south of the country. The old Sinhalese Kings are known to have built master irrigation systems and lived self-sufficiently. Buddhism is the religion of the Sinhalese people and was introduced to Sri Lanka in 3 rd century BC. The rich culture, art and architecture derives essence from Buddhism. 

The Tamils are the second largest community and accounts for 14% of the population. Divided between Ceylon Tamils and Indian Tamils, this community mainly inhabits in the North, Northeast and Central provinces. The Indian Tamils have migrated to Sri lanka during the time of the British rulers to work on tea plantations etc and have settled in the Central Province of the country in the tea estates. The Ceylon Tamils have a 1000year long history in Sri Lanka and are mainly living in the Jaffna peninsula. The two communities are largely Hindu devotees and have a similar culture and caste system different from the Sinhalese.

The Muslim community which accounts for 7% of the population practice the Islam religion and have settled in the east coastal belt of Sri Lanka. With a history dating back to about 1000 years, the Muslims first arrived from Arab to Sri Lanka for trade purposes and later settled in the coastal area. 

The fourth significant community is the Burgher community and are descendants of Portuguese or Dutch. Spread around the west coastal belt, this community is either Roman Catholic or Christian (Dutch Reformed Church)

General Information

Does and dont when interacting with locals

Always gives and receives and eats with your right hand. It is extremely bad mannered to use your left hand for eating

The traveler who wishes to have a happy and successful trip in Sri Lanka should keep as calm, cheerful and friendly as humanly possible. Patience and courtesy are virtues that open many doors. Demanding tourists do not get smiles, service or respect. 

Pollution and waste management is a huge problem throughout the world. Unfortunately in many parts of Asia, disposal systems are inadequate and recycling of plastics is limited. We suggest avoiding plastic packaging where possible and take along your own bag when shopping. Plastic bags will be offered for everything! Collect and dispose in the next town

The law protects certain endangered species of flora & fauna. Export & in even possession of these species as well as of wild animals, birds, reptiles etc., is illegal. The production and sale of items made from wild animals and reptiles, e.g.: Leopard skins, crocodile skins, elephant tusks etc., is also illegal

Never break coral, or brush against it. Coral is basically a colony of living organisms and damaging them, might kill them. If you go out in a Glass-bottom Boat, encourage the pilot to steer well clear from the coral itself. Boats scraping over the top of the reef are doing damage especially at Hikkaduwa. Never buy coral if it's offered for sale. Similarly don't buy sea shells or turtle shells (or eggs). All of Sri Lanka's five species of Turtle are endangered. If you happen to spot a turtle, when being take out on a boat, discourage the driver from circling it; this sort of harassment is very stressful to the turtle

Shopping & Entertainment

Advice on shopping

Sri Lanka has a wide variety of very attractive handicrafts on sale. Sri Lankan masks are a very popular collector's item. Other recommendations are batiks, wood carvings, gemstones, semi- precious stones, lacquer-ware, hand made Silver- and Brass objects and don't forget the famous 'Ceylon Tea'. Please avoid ornaments made from tortoise shells & ivory. Never buy turtle shell, even suggest you not to purchase any woodcarving made from ebony, in order to preserve this scarce hardwood.
Sri Lanka is a major garment manufacturer and exporter of all kinds of clothing. There is an excellent selection of children and casual clothing for men & women, beach wear and even warm padded jackets at extremely attractive prices. Colombo is fast becoming an attraction for garment hunters.

Nightlife in Sri Lanka

The places with some active night life are Colombo, Negombo and Hikkaduwa.
Colombo has some decent pubs, night clubs, karaoke lounges and bars. There is a growing pub-culture among the young crowd in Colombo. Friday and Saturday nights are the days for all night partying. The casinos offer a good combination of live entertainment, food and games of chance.
Negombo and Hikkaduwa have some good beach restaurants and bars. Negombo doesn’t have much of a party scene, but you will find regular beach parties in Hikkaduwa and Mount Lavinia.

How to tip

Although a 10% service charge is included in bills for food and accommodation, tipping is a customary way of showing your appreciation for services rendered. A rule of thumb is to tip 10% of the total amount due. Your housekeeping staff, doorman, bellboy all expect a little tip. A tip between 100 - 200 rupees for each service is considered sufficient.

A 1 US$ bill is roughly equal to Rs. 100, so giving this as a tip is also well received by the locals.

Travelling & Photography

Best time to travel

Climatically, the best & driest seasons are from December to March on the West & South Coasts and in the hill country, and from May to September in the East Coast. Sri Lanka is subject to two monsoons, the rainy season in the East coast is the dry season in the south west coast & vise versa. This means Sri Lanka is a year around destination, and there is always a 'right' season somewhere in the island.
Out of season travel has it's advantages, not only do the crowds go away, but many airfares & accommodation prices too go down, with many special offers thrown in. On the coast the average temperature is about 27° C. The temperature rapidly falls with altitude. At Kandy (altitude 450m) the average temperature is 20° C and at Nuwara Eliya (altitude 1890m) it's down to around 16°C.

Does and don’t of local photography

Ask permission before taking pictures either of people or inside temples or other sacred places. For example, it is forbidden to take photographs inside the cave temple complex of Dambulla. Never use flash on murals inside temples and other places; it can damage them. You are not allowed to use flash at the frescoes at Sigiriya, but where there is no ban, please behave responsibly. Never pose beside or in front of a Buddha statue (i.e. with your back to the statue). Such conduct is considered extremely disrespectful. Never take a photo of a monk without asking permission. Tourists are sometimes asked for money for taking photos. Always ask before you shoot whether payment is expected.Never take photos of dams, airports, roadblocks or anything to do with the military. Don't tote the camera around Colombo Fort.

Process my digital photos in Sri Lanka 

There are many franchised photo shops such as Kodak & Fuji with advanced digital imaging services in major towns. Almost all types of digital data storage devices are accepted. It’s always advisable to keep a backup of your pictures before handing over for processing.
It’s always advisable to bring a USB cord (camera to PC) so you transfer the pictures to a PC. The internet cafés are ideal for this (you’ll find them all around the country). Simply copy the pictures to the PC and then burn them into a CD.  This is much cheaper than processing through a photography shop/ studio. It’s best to make two copies of the CD. One you keep with you, the other send it home in the post. That way you can always keep your memory cards empty to capture more photos!
Digital camera accessories such as memory cards and batteries are available in major towns 

Clothes & Accessories

What sort of clothes

Lightweight, light colored cotton clothes are best suited for the warm temperatures of a tropical country like Sri Lanka. Some warm clothes are recommended if you are heading for the hilly regions, where the evenings tend to get chilly.

Particular dress code that should be aware of

Evening wear – advisable to bring one set, as larger hotels insist on ‘long attire’ for men during dinner (no shorts and no sandals). Ladies could come in dresses, skirts or long shorts, but not in any beach/ swimwear.

The Hill Club in Nuwara Eliya insists on ‘formal attire’ for dinner.

Dress modestly at religious sites. You should remove your shoes and hat when entering a Buddhist or Hindu temple, if carrying an umbrella unfurl it. Your legs & shoulders should be covered; never enter a temple in beach wear (i.e. shorts or singlet).

Nudity is absolutely not allowed anywhere. This includes at the beach. Even topless sunbathing is prohibited

 

Money & Banking

Currency used in Sri Lanka

The Sri Lankan currency is the Rupee (Rs), divided in to 100 cents. Notes come in denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000 & 2000. Breakdown larger notes when you change money - it can sometimes be a problem to breakdown a larger note (500, 1000 or 2000).

Hotels and other tourist establishments will quote you the price in US$ or Euro and collect in Rupees at the prevailing exchange rate.

Is the US$/ Euro widely used

US$/ Euro etc., is accepted in most large hotels, and tourist establishments, but not in outlets catering to locals. Advice to bring in US$/ Euro and change as and when needed.

Best currency to bring - US$ / £ Sterling / Euro

It depends on your primary account currency.

If your account is in Singapore Dollars, bring that (or you’ll lose on converting to a third currency).

You can change the currency to Rupees on arrival at the airport. However, if your currency is a non-freely convertible local currency (not freely traded in international foreign exchange markets) it’s better to bring a freely convertible currency like the US$/ Euro. There are many currency exchange counters at the arrival lounge (after passing baggage clearance and customs).

Internationally accepted currencies and credit cards are easily accepted at most tourist establishments. Travelers cheques are also recommended. We recommend you change some of your money into local currency for tipping, shopping and other miscellaneous expenses.

The exchange of foreign currency is only permitted at banks, money changes and Hotels. You'll have no problem changing Travelers Cheques at any major bank. Thomas Cook and Visa are the most widely accepted. Banks charge a 0.5% handling fee and generally a commission, which varies from bank to bank. Change only that amount of money you require for spending.

How much of money can be broughtg in to/ take out of the country?

There is no restriction in bringing money in foreign currencies into Sri Lanka. This sum could be in TCs, Bank drafts or currency notes. However, if the total exceeds US$ 15,000, that sum must be declared to the Sri Lanka Customs.

If you wish to take out from Sri Lanka a sum in excess of US$ 5000 in currency notes (out of the money brought in), you must declare the entirety of the sum brought in, even if it is less than US$ 15,000.

The foreign currency amounts indicated in US$ may be in equivalent amounts in other convertible foreign currencies.

Please retain whatever receipts of exchange (including ATM receipts) for monies declared. This will be helpful when re-exchanging to foreign currency and taking your money back out of the country. The Re-Exchange (purchase of foreign currency) can only take place on your departure at the Bank counters at the airport. Do note that they will only accept bank receipts (not Money Changer receipts).

Credit cards widely accepted

Credit Cards are widely used and accepted by local establishments (even in small towns). The most widely used card types are Visa and MasterCard, with Amex to a lesser extent. It would be a convenient option to use your Credit Card (valid for international use) whenever possible.

ATM machines widely available

ATM’s are available in most main cities. You can take cash against Visa / Mastercard in most ATM’S. However, as different banks accept different cards, we advice you ensure that your card is valid for use in Sri Lanka by contacting your bank.

Food

Sri Lankan dishes are based on rice, with a large variety of vegetables, fish & fruits. The uniqueness of Sri Lankan food influenced by invaders and traders - Indians, Arabs, Malays, Moors, Portuguese, Dutch and English all whom have left a mark on the Sri Lankan diet, will surely make your trip a voyage of culinary discovery!

Sri Lankan food is good, perhaps a little too piquant for foreign palates, but worth trying. The Lankan food served in your hotel is toned down a little bit due to the sensitive stomach of most tourists, but nevertheless is delicious and you should try it.International food of any kind is found in all major Sri Lankan Restaurants.

Most coastal towns have excellent seafood including prawns & delicious crab. Rates are quite inexpensive. Being a tropical country, Sri Lanka is blessed with a large variety of fruits. Some fruits like mangoes and Bananas (known an plantains here), come in over a dozen of sub varieties of shapes, sizes & tastes! Fruits such as Rambutan, Pineapple, Mangosteen, Papaya (Papaw), wood apple, melons, passion fruit, guavas, etc., are but a small sample of the amazing variety of fruits to be discovered and enjoyed.

Vegetarian food

Most large hotels and restaurants have a ‘vegetarian section’ in the menu. The smaller local ‘rice and curry’ restaurants may say the food is vegetarian but include a serving of fried fish or sprats (anchovies). The ‘South Indian’ vegetarian restaurants are 100% vegetarian.

‘Halal’ food

‘Halal’ food is quite scarce in major hotels. The Galadari and Holiday Inn in Colombo serve halal food, as well as the Confifi group of hotels (Eden, Riverina & Club Palm Garden) in Beruwela. There are quite a few restaurants in Colombo and Kandy, but not much else. The best bet is to order seafood instead of meat to be on the safe side.

Drinks

Sri Lanka is famous for it's tea, and pride ourselves in producing 'Ceylon Tea', the finest tea in the world. There is a local version of coffee, which is a bit strong. But Colombo is the only place that you could get a really good espresso. Highly recommended are the fresh fruit juices. Popular international soft drinks are available even in little village boutiques.

Sri Lanka has it's own variety of local beer. Sri Lanka also has two extremely popular local varieties of intoxicating beverage - Toddy and Arrack. Toddy is a natural drink, produced from one or other palm trees. Fermented and refined toddy becomes Arrack. Imported beer and foreign liquors cost almost the same as in most western countries.

Thambili or King Coconut is a sweet, clean and cheap natural drink that you’ll find by the wayside. It’s extremely cooling and refreshing!

Advice not to drink tap water unless it is purified. Bottled water is recommended. Only use water from containers with serrated seal- not tops or corks. Most hotel rooms have boiled water in thermos flasks, which is safe to drink.

Liquor is not served on Full Moon days

Full Moon days (known as Poya days), are of religious significance to Buddhists and devoted to prayer and meditation. In keeping with its significance as a religious day abstinence is practiced. As such places selling liquor (including hotel bars) and Meat shops closed. Places of entertainment such as cinemas, discos and casinos are closed as well.

Smoking in public places

Smoking and consuming liquor in public areas is banned in Sri Lanka. The smoking ban includes enclosed public places such as restaurants and social clubs.

Safety

Sri Lanka is quite a safe destination to travel and one of the most picturesque countries on earth. The country is at peace and we are experiencing record a record number of visitors; as Sri Lanka is considered one of the few ‘un-spoilt’ destinations in Asia .Tours are conducted in areas which are considered safe for tourists to visit.

safety precautions must I take when traveling

According to accepted norms of travel you should deposit your valuables like money, passport, tickets, jewels etc in the hotel safe deposit locker. In accordance with international custom the Hotels in Sri Lanka are not responsible for objects lost in the room. You should also not leave your valuables unattended on the beach, the balconies or terraces.
Never leave your money or passport in your backpack or suitcase. Always keep a record of your Travelers Cheque numbers separately from the Travelers Cheques. It is wise to keep an amount of money (about US$ 200) stashed away separately from your money-belt or pouch.

mosquitoes and other pests

Most hotels will provide you with a plug-in mosquito repellent which will usually be switched on during turn down. You can buy the mats (small repellent tablet inserted to the plug-in unit), from most local supermarkets. Mosquito nets in hotels are a rarity. You can also buy the burning coils or citronella candles from the supermarket. It would be advisable to apply some repellent lotion if you plan to have dinner in an outdoor/ alfresco setting.  The locally available ‘Siddhalepa balm’ is quite effective to take the itch out of mosquito bites.
Leeches - A good remedy is to apply soap and left to dry or apply lime to exposed areas. You can wear leech socks. Which are pulled over the trousers to prevent leeches reaching the exposed skin of the legs.
If you find a leech sucking on your leg, do not pull it off, but wait for it to fall off after feeding. Else you can apply some salt; this will make the leech release its hold and fall off.

Communication

Telephone facilities in the country

 
Telephone facilities are available extensively throughout the country. There are many telephone booths which accept coins, but the clarity and talk times may be short. Telephone bureaus are quite common with most offering IDD and internet facilities. Some offer the cheaper net-to-phone facilities, but quality is not always reliable. IDD facilities are available in most tourist hotels.

Country code and dialing area codes

Dialing in - Sri Lanka’s country code is 94, (E.g. If you need to call a number in Colombo, dial (++94 11 2XXXXXX). If you are calling a mobile number, you dial the number after the country code dial (++94 7XX XXXXXX).
Dialing within/ out - If you need to take an overseas call, you’ll have to dial ‘00’. You do not have to dial the area code if you are within the area. However, the area code must be dialled if you want to take an outstation call (e.g. calling within Colombo, dial 2XXXXXX, Calling Kandy from Colombo, dial 081 22XXXXX). 

Mobile technologies supported in Sri Lanka

All mobile operators support the GSM technology on GSM 900/ 1800 bands. WAP & GPRS is widely supported. 3G and wireless broadband is available around the country . Wifi zones are available in selected spots in major towns.

Purchasing a local mobile connection while on holiday

It’s a good option to purchase a local SIM card and top up cards while you are on holiday. The mobile call rates are relatively cheap for both local and IDD calls.  There are many mobile operators in the country (E.g. Dialog, Mobitel, Etisalat, Airtel etc.,). Dialog and Mobitel have counters at the Colombo Airport and you can obtain a connection on arrival.Be sure that your phone is `dual band’ and unlocked.

Internet access

Most hotels provide internet facilities. There are internet cafes in most towns with ADSL connection. Connections in smaller towns will be slow.  The average cost of surfing in a Cybercafe  is about Euro .50 per hour. Many large 5 star and some boutique hotels provide Wifi facilities.

Customs regulations

customs restrictions on arrival

On arrival you have to fill in the official entry form. You may bring into the country 1.5 litres spirits, 2 bottles of wine, small quantities of perfume, still/ video camera, films for personal use. Make sure that you declare all valuables, gems and jewelery on arrival. You are not allowed to bring good in commercial quantities. You may choose the ‘Green Channel’ for clearance, if you have nothing to declare.
Professional photography or filming equipment must be declared, and subject to clearance on providing a valid garnet, bank guarantee or refundable deposit of the duty payable. 

Please visit Sri Lanka customs  for more information.

customs regulations on departure

You may take out of the country anything you declared upon entering. Can also take back valuable items such as gems and jewelery purchased in Sri Lanka (please keep receipts) from the funds brought in to the country.

Up to 3 Kg of tea may be exported duty free. Please reconvert your unused Sri Lanka currency to foreign currency at departure.

Do ensure that you take back with you cameras, photographic equipment, transistor radios, recorders and sound equipment declared on arrival.

Items which are prohibited to be taken out of the country

You are not permitted to take any currency in excess of which you declared on arrival; gems, jewellery or valuable equipment not declared on arrival or not purchased in Sri Lanka, including gold (crude, bullion or coins). You cannot export Sri Lanka currency in excess of Rs. 250/-. Also prohibited are export of firearms, explosives and dangerous weapons, antiques, statues, treasures, old books, etc., (antiques are items over 50 years old); animals birds or reptiles (dead or alive) and their parts and dangerous drugs.

Visa requirements and procedure

Visa requirements

Visa regulations are simple. Tourists visiting Sri Lanka can enter the country with minimum formalities Citizens of countries offered visa on arrival can enter Sri Lanka without a prior visa and will be allowed (depending on country of nationality) at the point of entry without any payment. Nationals of countries not classified under the above scheme are required to possess a valid visa, obtained from the respective Sri Lanka Diplomatic Missions, prior to entering the country irrespective of the purpose of visit. Tourists should have a return air ticket, sufficient foreign exchange [currency / travelers cheques / credit card] for maintenance.

Visa procedure

As long as your stay is within 30 days you have nothing to worry. You will need to fill a disembarkation/ immigration card. This is available in the plane, or you can ask the cabin crew. If it’s not available on board, you’ll have to collect one from the row of desks just before the immigration officer’s counter. Once you filled it and handed over to the immigration officer, your passport will be stamped with a visa valid for 30 day.

Your holiday is over 30 days, how can you obtain an extension to your visa?

You can either apply and obtain an extended visa from a Sri Lankan Embassy/ ConsulateDepartment of Immigration and Emigration  in Colombo 10.   This procedure will take about 2-3 hours, and you will have to give a bona fide reason for staying over 30 days. If you are staying in a resort for a long period, the staff will be able to help you with the application.

Negombo

Negombo is located 37km. North of Colombo and 6 km. from the Katunayake International Airport, Negombo is an ideal fishing town as well as a paradise for the seafood buffets. You can enjoy watching the old -world fishing crafts like outrigger canoes and the catamarans bringing a variety of marine fishes like seers, skipjacks, pomfrets and amber-jacks. In the lagoon lobsters and prawns are caught and served as fascinating delicacies in the nearby restaurants. There's much more in Negombo than just a sandy stretch of beach, where much history has been witnessed. During the time when Dutch were ruling the coastal areas of Sri Lanka, a fort, a canal and many a church was built and cinnamon cultivation took high priority. Remains of these provide a glimpse of the past and adorn the beach in Negombo along with fishing villages, which are sprinkled in the area.

The beach here is quiet and peaceful,It is not always safe to swim here, but diving enthusiasts can explore the wreck of a World War II British cargo plane in nearby Marawila. A jungle boat trip down the Kalu Ganga (Black River) will reward you with the sighting of monitor lizards and flocks of migrant birds.

The Munneswaram Hindu temple is 20kms away, and can be combined with a tour of the famous fish market in the seaside town of Chilaw. The larger hotels in the area also have equipment and facilities for water sports such as windsurfing, sailing and skiing.

Mount Lavinia

Just 12 km. south of Colombo, Mount Lavinia is the most popular beach because of its close proximity to the capital. It is situated beside a wind swept headland jutting into the waters of the Indian Ocean. Mt-Lavinia beach is noteworthy in historical value as well as in beauty. It is an ideal place to indulge in relaxation and enjoy the sea. The Governor's House built in 1805 by Sir Thomas Maitland now forms part of the famous Mount Lavinia Hotel. Mt-Lavinia Beach is quite busy on Sundays and public holidays with large crowds gathered to participate in many beach sports activities such as swimming, wind surfing, beach volleyball, beach rugby, etc. Music by Live bands & Entertainment by DJs keep the toes of the crowd tapping.

Arugam Bay

Located 314 Km to the East of Colombo, Arugam Bay is a fishing village. The town has a sweeping beach and a beautiful bay that is excellent for wind surfing, which is regarded as one of five best places in the world for wind surfing. The bay offers numerous possibilities for water sports and underwater photography. The many shipwrecks off the coast offer a tempting challenge to the divers.

Kalkudah & Passekudah beaches

32 km. from Batticaloa, Kalkudah is a popular tourist centre with the fine bay Passekudah lying close by. The calm reef-protected sea is an ideal place for having a sea bath. There is also a popular hotel along with other amenities required for the tourist. Kalkudah & Passekudah are two very fine beaches in the East Coast. Kalkudah Bay, a 2 km long wide stretch of beach-located 32 km north of Batticaloa-is well protected from the monsoons by an offshore reef. Passekudah Bay is another wide beach 4 km long, just south of Kalkudah. The two beaches form an ideal stretch for bathing, windsurfing and water-skiing.