Welcome to Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is the paradise you never knew existed. This exquisite, teardrop-shaped country is teeming with beautiful beaches, lumbering elephants, lush tea plantations and fabulous food.

There are eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites to discover, celebrations of Sri Lanka’s more than 2,000 years of culture. Climb to Sigiriya, a rock-top fortress from the fifth century AD that has been both a royal palace and a Buddhist monastery.

Commune with the big guys in Udawalawe National Park, where around 400 elephants make their home in grassland, scrub jungle and riverine forest. While you’re in wildlife mode, head to Yala National Park to search for the elusive leopard. Tour the neatly terraced tea estates and learn about the origins of Sir Thomas Lipton’s tea empire.

Then, head to the white, sugar-soft sands of Arugam Bay on the dry southeast coast. Watch the surfers swoop, try it yourself, or simply lounge and enjoy the swaying palms and light trade winds – wondering why you didn’t get to Sri Lanka sooner.

Unique Facts

• Sri Lanka’s most sacred mountain is Adam’s Peak. Pilgrims from all over will climb to the summit by candlelight to stand in the footprint said to have been left by Buddha when he visited Sri Lanka. The country’s Christian and Muslim people believe that this footprint is that of Adam when he was exiled from Eden (believing that Sir Lanka was Eden).
• The abundance of waterfalls and rivers in the country means that the majority of power for Sri Lanka is generated by hydropower.
• Cinnamon is from Sri Lanka. Egyptians discovered here as early as 2000 BC. Eighty to 90 percent of the world’s cinnamon still comes from Sri Lanka.
• Sri Lanka boasts the highest literacy rate in all of South Asia.
• You can visit Buddha’s tooth in Sri Lanka. It’s housed at Kandy’s Temple of the tooth and is one of the world’s most sacred Buddhist sites.

Language

Sri Lanka’s official language is Sinhala and Tamil.

When To Go

The best time to go to Sri Lanka is between December and April on the west and south coasts and the Cultural Triangle, and between May and October on the east coast.

Airports

Colombo International Airport

Passport Validity

Passport must be valid at time of entry for six months beyond arrival date.

Visa Required By US Citizen?

Yes

Vaccinations

The CDC recommends the following vaccines for most travelers when visiting Sri Lanka: Hepatitis A and Typhoid. Depending on where you are traveling, you may also need Hepatitis B, Japanese Encephalitis, Rabies and Yellow Fever vaccines.

Electrical Outlets

Power plugs and sockets: types D and G. Standard voltage: 230V. Frequency: 50Hz.

Currency

Official local currency: Sri Lankan Rupee

Getting Around

Road conditions differ from the United States. Expect congested traffic in Colombo, as well as narrow, two-lane highways, overloaded trucks, poorly driven vehicles and everything from ox carts to 4WD vehicles on the roadways.

Consider hiring a car and driver to get around the country. Do not use public buses.

Driver’s License

A Sri Lankan driver’s license is required.

US Embassy Info

U.S. Embassy Colombo
210 Galle Road,
Colombo 03,
Sri Lanka
Telephone: +(94) (11) 249-8500
Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(94) (011) 249-8686
Fax: +(94) (11) 243-7345
colomboacs@state.gov

Local Visitor Info

Tourist Information Office
No. 80, Tourist Information Office,
Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau,
Colombo 03
Tel: +94 112426800 /+94 112426900
welcome@srilanka.travel

Local Emergency Phone Numbers

Ambulance, Fire: 110
Police: 112

Safety and Security

The crime rate is rising in Sri Lanka. Route petty crime, theft of personal property and pickpocketing is common if appropriate safeguards are not taken. All travelers should travel in a group, especially women. Travelers should consider paying in cash when possible.