SRI LANKA – General Information

Sri Lanka has a unique combination of beaches, a 2,500-year culture, historical ancient cities, seven world heritage sites, probably the world's eighth wonder in Sigiriya, the tea-growing hill country and the added uniqueness that all this is within the reach of visitors in a relatively small land area - an island country.

Capital : Sri Jayawardenepura

Commercial Capital : Colombo

Population : 20,926,315 million, Density : 309 people per sq km

Languages: Sinhala, Tamil and English are widely spoken throughout Sri Lanka, with the exception of remote villages where it might be Sinhala only or Tamil only.

Ethnic Groups : Sinhalese- 74 per cent; Tamil- 18 per cent; Muslim -7 per cent; Burgher (descendants of Dutch and Portuguese colonist) and others- 1 per cent

Religions : Buddhism- 70%; Hinduism- 16%; Christianity- 7%; Islam-7%

Visitors to Buddhist temples are advised to be properly clad covering the body in full. Briefs, shorts, bear backs and bare shoulders are against accepted norms. When entering Buddhist and Hindu shrines footwear and headgear should be removed.

Time : Sri Lanka standard time is 6 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.

Industries Processing of rubber, tea, coconuts, and other agricultural commodities; clothing, cement, petroleum refining, textiles, tobacco.

Agriculture – Products : Rice, sugarcane, grains, pulses, oilseed, roots, spices, tea, rubber, coconuts; milk, eggs, hides, meat

Working Days : Five working days (Monday to Friday)

When to go?

In General, the best season is the driest season from December to March on the west and south coasts and in the hill country, and from May to September on the east coast. December to March is also the time when most foreign tourists come. Out-of-season travel has its advantages - not only do the crowds go away but many accommodation prices drop down. Nor does it rain ALL the time during the low season. In addition, JULY/AUGUST is the time of the Kandy Esala Perahera, the 10-day festival honoring the sacred tooth relic, and the Kataragama Festival in the south.

Climate

Only 640 km north of the equator, Sri Lanka's tropical climate shows little seasonal variation in temperature. Around the coasts, temperature hovers between 26C and 28C, with a mean temperature in the capital of 27.5C. Inland, however, average temperatures are very much cooler. 
From May to September, the southwest monsoon deposits heavy rain on the south and west coasts, from Colombo to Galle and points east, and also raises heavy seas which make swimming and diving unattractive.  The worst intensity of the monsoon generally passes by late July or early August. 

The north and east, including the main east coast port of Trincomalee, are affected by the northeast monsoon from November to February, but this will have little impact on most areas and visitor attractions are concentrated in the south and the central hills.  Local thunderstorms can occur any time of year, and while these are often intense, they do not usually last more than a few hours.

Festivals

Owing to the variety of religious faiths, Sri Lanka has frequent colorful and elaborate festivals. A highlight among these is the Kandy Esala Perahera, which is held in the full-moon month of Esala (July/August).  This 10-day event builds up to a crescendo of dancing, drumming and parades of richly caparisoned elephants. At about the same time of year another elaborate festival is held at Kataragama in the south, where days of frenetic activity culminate in devotes walking across beds of glowing cinders.

What to buy?

Sri Lanka has a wide range of handicrafts at very reasonable prices. The country is also famous for gems and silverware. Many hotels have their own shopping arcades.

Note: Goods purchased at the Duty-Free Complex in the Airport have to be paid in foreign currency.

Gems: Sri Lanka's most celebrated export. Blue Sapphires, Cats Eyes, Rubies, Star Rubies, Star Sapphires, Alexandrite, Moonstones, Topaz, etc. are offered for sale at the Sri Lanka Gem & Jewellery Exchange. A free gem testing service is provided to tourist.

Laksala : The handicrafts emporium run by the State offers handicrafts made in wood, brass, silver, rush and reed, natural fiber, papier-mâché, buffalo horn, coconut shell, cane and bamboo.

Tea: The best in the world! Available in special presentation packs at the Sri Lanka Tea Board counter at 574 Galle Road, Colombo 3 and at the airport.

What to Bring?

Sri Lanka is a place for high-summer gear, apart from the hill country where the temperatures can sink surprisingly low at night. In the hill country, and Nuwara Eliya in particular, you will need a sweater or light coat for the evenings. If you intend to make the pre-dawn ascent of Adam's Peak, you will need all the warm gear you can muster wearing a T-shirt, shirt, sweater and ski-jacket. Shorts on women are really only for the beach. Topless bathing by women may cause offence or attract unwanted attention. You should be prepared to discard your footwear when you visit a temple. Therefore, it makes sense to wear sandals or thongs if you expect to visit a temple. Some sort of head cover is also a wise precaution when you are exploring the ruins in the dry, hot, ancient cities area of Sri Lanka - but your head must be uncovered in temples.

Currency

One Sri Lankan rupee is made up of 100 cents. Currency notes are in the denominations of Rs.10, Rs.20, Rs.50, Rs.100, Rs.200, Rs.500 and Rs.1, 000. Credit cards: Reputed credit car charge cards are widely accepted by shops.

Any banks or exchange bureau will change major currencies including US dollars, deutschmarks and pounds sterling. This is best to change your Sri Lankan rupees back to foreign currency BEFORE you leave the country as it may not possible to do so upon return to your home country.

ATM is common in larger towns.

Travelers Cheque: There is no problem in changing Travelers Cheque at any major bank in Sri Lanka.  Thomas Cook, Visa and American Express are the most widely accepted. Banks charge a certain amount of percentage as the stamp duty and generally a commission that ranges from around 1% to 8%.  Most banks have a special counter for foreign exchange and you usually will not have to queue.

Both Amex and Thomas Cook have offices in Colombo.

Credit Card: MasterCard and Visa are most commonly accepted cards. Other major cards such as Amex and Diner Club are also accepted. Some banks give cash advances (Hatton National Bank and the Hong Kong & Shanghai Bank accept visa and MasterCard, and the Bank of Ceylon accepts Visa). Amex has an office in Colombo.

Voltage

230-240 volts 50 cycles AC, alternating current. If you are bringing sensitive electronic equipment into the country e.g. laptop, take a voltage stabilizer. Be aware that outside the major cities, power cuts and failure occur reasonably frequently. Plugs have three round pins.  Adaptors are readily available at electrical stores for about Rs 100, but if you want to be better prepared, bring an adaptor with you. If you are bringing a laptop and you want to connect your modem to a phone line, you will need a TUK RJ11 phone adaptor.

Customs

Customs Regulations (INBOUND)

Declare all your valuable equipment, Jewellery and gems. If you have nothing to declare, go through the “Green Channel”. Baggage should not contain goods for others, goods in commercial quantities, and prohibited or restricted goods. You are required to take back all your personal effects when departing the country. You are entitled to bring in 1.5 liters of spirits, 2 bottles of wine, a small quantity of perfume and travel souvenirs not exceeding US $ in value.

Customs Regulations (OUTBOUND)

PERMITTED: You are entitled to take out what you have declared and brought into the country, and whatever you have purchased locally, such as gems, Jewellery and Sri Lankan products with the funds brought in. Three kilos of Sri Lanka tea, duty free, foreign currency declared and brought into the country. Unused Sri Lankan currency should be reconverted to foreign currency at departure.

NOT PERMITTED:

Gems and Jewellery or valuable equipment not declared on arrival or not purchased in Sri Lanka is not permitted. Gold (crude, bullion or coins) Sri Lankan currency in excess of Rs. 250/- . Firearms, explosives and dangerous weapons, antiques, statues, treasures, vintage books, etc., Animals, birds or reptiles (dead or alive) and their parts, tea, rubber and coconut plants, dangerous drugs.

Entry & VISA Formalities

For nationals of most countries, visas are issued on arrival for 30 days. Extension of tourist visas are handled by the Department of Immigration and Emigration, for further details call Tel: 011 2597511

All the countries in the SAARC region are exempt from visa

UPDATED November 2008

ALL INFORMATION ABOVE IS GIVEN FOR YOUR REFERENCE.

IT IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE.

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