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Sri Lanka
About Sri
Lanka
People &
Culture
Visa
Getting
around
Currency
Time Zone
Telephones &
Communications
Shopping
Tips
Do's &
Don'ts
About Sri Lanka:
Sri Lanka’s idyllic landscape and
a mercurial mix of opportunities
make it the ultimate holiday
destination.……….. the garden of Eden, “the
original paradise, amid scenes as
beautiful as the hand of God ever
created.
According to Mark Twain, were “All
harmonious, all in perfect taste”.
Colombo, the main point of entry,
is a bustling metropolis of big
businesses and small bazaars;
while Kandy – the last royal
citadel – is the cultural center
and home to the legendary Temple
of the Sacred Toot Relic, and the
spectacular festivals of the
perahera. Galle, the ancient port
of Tarshish, is a town within a
medieval fortress; while Nuwara
Eliya, in the salubrious
up-country, nestles amidst
picturesque tea gardens and
dazzling waterfalls. In the “Rajarata”,
or king’s domain, are the ancient
cities of Anuradhpura, Polonnaruwa,
Dambulla and Sigiriya – all
treasured.
People & Culture:
The life of the majority of
Sri Lankans is influenced by the
compassionate teachings of the
Buddha. Even the roots of those
Sri Lankans who follow other
faiths would in all probability
have been nurtured by those
teachings, for that it was
Buddhism that was the religion of
all Sri Lankans before
Christianity and Islam were
introduced to the Island in more
recent times. That is what has
made them a nation of tolerable
and hospitable people.
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VISA:
For nationals of most
countries, visas are issued on
arrival for 30 days.
Extension of tourist visas is
handled by the Department of
Immigration and Emigration.
Countries Exempt from Visas: All
the countries in the SAARC region
are exempt from visa.
Getting around:
The most common mode of
transport in Sri Lanka is via a
three-wheeled automobile called a
tri-shaw. These operate in a
manner similar to taxis, and is a
highly cost-efficient way to get
around. Other modes of transport
include renting cars (which often
come with their own drivers).
Often the automobile itself is
free, whereas the driver will
charge a small fee for his
services.
For those on a budget buses are
everywhere. They're ridiculously
crowded and massively
uncomfortable, but they get you
around for almost nothing; it
costs about a dollar to get
half-way across the island. If
you're planning on splashing out,
AC buses run most routes for twice
the price, which offer
air-conditioning and a guaranteed
seat. However, they're still
uncomfortable. Bus stations are
confusing places, especially the
big ones, but almost everyone will
be delighted to practice their
English and help you.
Trains also run in some places -
these are slower than buses but
more comfortable and picturesque.
Currency
:
Sri Lanka follows decimal
currency system in Rupees (Rs.)
and cents (Cts.) with 100 cents
equal to a rupee. Currency notes
are available in the denominations
of Rs. 2,10,20,50,100,200, 500 and
1000. Coins are issued in values
of Cts.1,2,5,10, 25 and 50 and
Rs.1,2,5 and 10. The intervention
currency continuously will be the
US Dollar.
Time Zone:
Standard time zone: UTC/GMT +6
hours.
No daylight saving time at the
moment.
Telephones & Communications:
Police 011 2433333
Immigration & Emigration 011
2503629, 011 2597510-3 (visas)
Fire 011 2422222-3
Travel Information Centre 011
2503629
Directory Enquires 161
International Enquires 134
Flight Information 0732377,
0732677
Sri Lanka Tourist Board 011
2437055, 011 2437059, 011 2437060
Travel Agents Association 011
2421745-47
Sri Lanka Customs 011 2421141-9,
011 2470945-9
General Hospital 011 2691111
General Post office 011 2326302,
011 2320722, 011 2448482
Railway Tourist Office 011 2435838
Central Bus Stand 011 2329604-5
Directory assistance 0112-327392
(International)
0112421411 (National)
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Shopping:
Sri Lanka offers an
interesting and existing array of
items for shoppers. Gems, Finished
Garments, Batiks, Tea and
Handicrafts are popular shopping
itineraries among the tourists.
Handlooms fabric materials,
leather products, furniture,
reproduction of antiques,
jewellery and ceramic are also
popular with visitors of fine
taste who appreciate the very
best.
-
Handlooms: Once thriving
handloom industry is now slowly
picking up with many up to-date
designs suitable for modern
living. These include shirting,
saris and especially upholstery
materials.
-
Furniture: Most popular
furniture among the tourists is
the Dutch and British era
reproductions.
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Gems: Ratnapura has been
the main source of gems for many
centuries and most of the
Country's gem dealers are located
in this town. Most gem cutting
centers also offers gems to be set
into jewellery by the visitors.
Gems are also available at
jewellery shops around the
country. The Gem Exchange in
Colombo houses many Gem dealers
and a government valuation
service.
-
Tea:
As the producer of the world's
finest teas there are many tea
sales centers at most tourist
destinations around the country
and at main shopping centers in
Colombo.
“The island produces more
beautiful and valuable rubies than
are found in any other part of the
world, and likewise sapphires,
topazes, amethysts, garnets, and
many other precious and costly
stones."- Marco Polo, 13th
century.
Do's
& Don'ts
-
It is customary to remove your
shoes before entering places of
worship (excluding most Western-origin
churches), but at home it's not as
strict as some other Asian
countries (e.g. Japan).
-
Never touch or pat the top of the
head of a Buddhist, including
children.
-
Do not turn your back to (or be
alongside) a Buddha statue when
within a reasonable distance
(observe what others are doing).
This includes posing for photos.
It's OK to photograph the statues,
but all persons should be facing
them.
-
Public nudity (including female
topless) is never acceptable and
illegal in Sri Lanka, including
all beaches. (A few German-owned
hotels may make an exception in
designated areas.)
-
Although much latitude is given to
tourists, it is more polite to not
use your left hand while shaking
hands, handing money and small
objects, etc. Likewise, with
needlessly exposing the bottom of
your feet in public.
-
Be respectful to all monks,
(you'll recognize them easily,
they're in bright orange robes.)
You probably won't come into much
contact with them, and there's no
particular etiquette for
westerners - just be polite.
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