Sri Lanka

Pearl of the Indian Ocean

Sri Lanka is an island country in South Asia in the Indian Ocean, formerly known as Ceylon. It lies southwest of the Bay of Bengal and southeast of the Arabian Sea.

The country boasts of friendly and welcoming people, beaches, incredible wildlife and diverse cultural and religious elements across the nation. It is also famous for cinnamon and tea exportation. Home of the famed Ceylon tea with a vast array of fragrant flavoured teas, including banana and brandy, this is something not to be missed!

Most travellers to Sri Lanka tend to overlook the capital city of Colombo, yet it is worth spending some time exploring this city. Colombo is the main gateway to the wonder of Sri Lanka, with hotels, office blocks, red-tiled colonial-era buildings, bustling street markets brimming with fragrant spices, colourful silks, cotton and fresh fruit and vegetables.

Experience an exhilarating tuk-tuk ride around the city, relish high tea at a magnificent colonial-style hotel overlooking the azure ocean. A shopper’s paradise, exquisite boutiques feature international brands.

The Pearl of the Indian Ocean showcases world-class natural beauty and wildlife together with the infinite kindness of its joyful people.

THE BEST TIME TO VISIT

Generally, the best time to visit the West and South coasts are from December to March and the East coast from April/May to September.

West Coast covers the region from the capital Colombo south towards the town of Galle, while the East coast covers Trincomalee, Pasikudah & Arugam Bay

- Peak Season: November – March
- Off-Season: April – August

Climate:

Sri Lanka’s climate is generally tropical and hot with the average temperature during the year ranging between a warm 27.8°C (82°F) to 30°C (86°F).

WHAT TO EXPECT

Language:

The official languages of Sri Lanka are Sinhala and Tamil, while English is considered a link language.

Currency: Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR or Rs)

Banks & ATMs:

The leading bank in Sri Lanka is The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) or Bank of Ceylon, but more common banks include HSBC and Standard Chartered.

ATMs are widely available; most work with Visa (Plus), MasterCard (Cirrus and Maestro) and even Amex.

Plugs and Sockets:

There are two associated plug types, types D and G

Plug type D is the plug that has three round pins in a triangular pattern

Plug type G is the plug that has three rectangular pins in a triangular pattern.

Sri Lanka operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz.

Highly recommended to carry a universal adaptor.

Culture:

A country of Buddhist heritage embracing the fine arts, including music, dance, cuisine, festivals, and sports.

The major ethnic groups are the Sinhalese and the Tamils, and their two dominant religions, Buddhism and Hinduism.

Safety:

Sri Lanka is a safe place for travel, but be careful about petty crimes such as pickpocketing and bag snatching.

Flight Connections:

Bandaranaike International Airport is the largest airport, and Sri Lankan Airlines is the flag carrier of Sri Lanka and part of the Oneworld alliance.

Emirates, flydubai, Sri Lankan Airlines, Air Mauritius, Air Arabia, KLM, PIA and Etihad Airways are other major international airlines that fly into Sri Lanka.

Search Skyscanner for many great airfares.