With experiences that thrill you to the core and encounters that touch your heart, Sri Lanka is undoubtedly an incredible destination for explorers and curious travellers! With a slew of eclectic appeals and unique attractions, the country gives you a new perspective on life and offers exclusive access to a multitude of exciting activities. In order to gain the complete island life experience we recommend that you should thoroughly study the country before visiting it and for starters, here are a few useful information about Sri Lanka.
Visa
Travellers can apply for Visa online and it would only take you about 10 minutes to fill in the details. Upon applying, you could get it approved within 3 working days. Also depending on the duration of your stay, the fee may differ. You can renew a 30-day visa twice and during each time of renewal, you will be granted permission for an additional 30-day stay.
Etiquette and practices
Sri Lanka is a country has a conservative culture and few etiquettes and practices must be followed at all times during your stay here. Some of them are as follows
Be mindful to wear conservative clothing covering your shoulders and knees while visiting temples and heritage sites. You cannot wear footwear inside temple premises; you can wear socks if you have to walk on rugged or hot pavements.
- Statues and Images of Buddha
Remember that Sri Lanka is predominantly composed of a Buddhist population and Buddha statues can be seen all over the island. Posing in front of these statues is considered disrespectful. Also if you have tattoos or wear clothing with images of Buddha it could get you arrested and even deported.
You will have to obtain permission to take photographs at the heritage site and if in case you need to take pictures of people ask their consent before you do so.
Topless or nude sunbathing is strictly prohibited.
Public displays of affection are frowned upon and same-sex sexual activity is also considered illegal in Sri Lanka. The island nation has no legislation to protect the LGBT+ Community but since the times are changing, travellers could be a bit more open at cosmopolitan regions of the country; yet PDA is still a no-no!
Access to the Internet
The island offers 4G connectivity throughout its major cities and most accommodation options, public places, and cafes offer free Wi-Fi. Travellers could buy sim cards from different carriers and you could get one at the airport itself upon arrival.
Transport and navigation
Google maps is the most reliable source when it comes to navigation applications and most of the maps and information that you get in the app are accurate. You could even get information about bus and train routes which are the major modes of inter-city travel. Ride-hailing services such as Uber and a local application known as PickMe are gaining popularity and you can rely on them if you are looking for a safe and comfortable journey between attractions in major cities.
Money
Most mid-range and high-end hotels accept credit cards and they come in handy for transactions at cities but it is recommended that you have local currency notes in hand if you are planning to visit the rural regions. ATMs are also available throughout the island and Mastercard and visa are the widely accepted credit cards. You could exchange currency at banks and moneychangers in cities. But try to stick to reliable establishments when you exchange currency.
