Plan Your Visit


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Sri Lanka at a Glance

 

Set in the Indian Ocean in South Asia, the tropical island nation of Sri Lanka has a history dating back to the birth of time. It is a place where the original soul of Buddhism still flourishes and where nature's beauty remains abundant and unspoilt.

Few places in the world can offer the traveller such a remarkable combination of stunning landscapes, pristine beaches, captivating cultural heritage and unique experiences within such a compact location. Within a mere area of 65,610 kilometres lie 8 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, 1,330 kilometres of coastline - much of it is pristine beach - 15 national parks showcasing an abundance of wildlife, nearly 500,000 acres of lush tea estates, 250 acres of botanical gardens, 350 waterfalls, 25,000 water bodies, to a culture that extends back to over 2,500 years.

This is an island of magical proportions, once known as Serendib, Taprobana, the Pearl of the Indian Ocean, and Ceylon.

Discover refreshingly Sri Lanka!

 

Official Name Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Government Type Republic
Location Latitude 5° 55. to 9° 50. north, Longitude 79° 42. to 81° 52., 650km north of the equator
Dimensions 430km North to South, 225km East to West
Coastline 1,340km
Area 65,525km
Currency (code) Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR)
Independence 4 February 1948
Administrative Capital Sri Jayewardenepura
Commercial Capital Colombo
Administrative Divisions Provinces-9, Provincial secreterial Divisions-331,Provincial Councils-271,Districts-25,Municipal Councils-23,Grama Niladhari divisions- 14,021,Villages-36822
Terrain Mostly low, flat to rolling plain; mountains in south-central interior
Highest Mountain Pidurutalagala, 2,524m
Highest Waterfall Bambarakanda, 263m
National Flower The Blue Water Lily (Nymphaea stellata).
National Parks and Nature Reserves Area 8,000sq.km
Population 20,359,439
Population Growth Rate 0.75%
Population Density 325 people per sq Km
Life Expectancy at Birth 78.6-Female,72-Male
Literacy Rate Female 90.8,Male 92.77
Ethnic Groups Sinhala (74.9%), Sri Lanka Tamil (11.2%) , Moor (9.3%) , Indian Tamil (4.1%) (2012 census)
Languages Sinhala (official and national language) 74%, Tamil (national language) 18%, other 8%

Note: English (a link language commonly) is used in government and spoken competently by about 10% of the population
Religion 70.1% of Sri Lankans were Theravada Buddhists, 12.6% were Hindus, 9.7% were Muslims (mainly Sunni), 6.2% Roman Catholic, 1.4 other Christians and 0.05% others.(2012 Census)
Time Zone Sri Lanka Standard Time is five and a half hours ahead of GMT. (Allowance should be made for summer-time changes in Europe.)
IDD Code  +94
Electricity 230 - 240 volts, 50 cycles AC.




 
Customs and Duty Free

 

A visitor is allowed to bring into the country duty free 1.5 litres of spirits, two bottles of wine, a quarter-litre of toilet water, and a small quantity of perfume and souvenirs with a value not exceeding US $250. The import of personal equipment such as cameras and laptop computers is allowed but must be declared on arrival. However, personal equipment must be taken out of the country upon the visitor's departure.

 

The import of non-prescription drugs and pornography of any form is an offence.

 

 

 
Where To Stay

 

Sri Lank Offers visitors an excellent range of accommodation facilities to suit all budgets from luxury hotels to low budget accommodations.

The organizers have negotiated special rates applicable to conference participants with Official Hotels. Return shuttle transfers will be provided from official hotels to the conference venue for the participants who make reservations at official hotels through the official travel partner.
 



 
Foreign Currency Regulations


There are no restrictions on the amount of foreign currency that can be brought into Sri Lanka. However, if the value of the currency exceeds USD 10,000 or its equivalent, it must be declared upon arrival.

Visitors are allowed to take out the unspent portion of the foreign currency they brought into Sri Lanka. Unspent rupees converted from foreign currencies also can be re-converted to the original currency on departure as long as encashment receipts can be produced.
 


 
Local Currency


The local currency is the Sri Lankan Rupee, divided into 100 cents (you rarely come across cents today). Currency notes are Rs. 5,000, Rs. 2,000, Rs. 1,000, Rs. 500, Rs. 100, Rs. 50 and Rs.20.

Beware of mistaking the Rs. 500 note for the somewhat similar Rs. 100 one. To check whether notes are genuine when not given at a bank, look for a lion watermark. Coins, should you have received them, will be in denominations up to Rs. 20.


 
Time Difference

Sri Lanka Standard Time is five and a half hours ahead of GMT. (Allowance should be made for summer-time changes in Europe.)

 
Electricity

The standard voltage of electricity in Sri Lanka is 230 volts and operates on a 50Hz frequency.

Type G plug, also known as the British BS-1363 plug, is the standard electrical plug used in Sri Lanka. The Type G plug has three rectangular-shaped pins in a triangular pattern and is designed to operate at a voltage of 230 volts and a frequency of 50 Hz.



 
Credit Cards

Most hotels, restaurants and shopping centres accept credit cards.


 
Banks

Banks are open from 0900 hrs to 1500 hours Monday to Friday.

It is easy to withdraw money across the island at ATMs using international credit cards or debit cards.

 
Language

Sri Lanka has two official languages. Sinhala and Tamil - with English as a link language. Most people have some knowledge of English, and signboards are often in English.


 
Weather

Due to the location of Sri Lanka, within the tropics between 5o 55' to 9o 51' North latitude and between 79o 42' to 81o 53' East longitude, the climate of the island could be characterized as tropical.

The central part of the southern half of the island is mountainous with heights more than 2.5 Km. The core regions of the central highlands contain many complex topographical features such as ridges, peaks, plateaus, basins, valleys and escarpments. The remainder of the island is practically flat except for several small hills that rise abruptly in the lowlands. These topographical features strongly affect the spatial patterns of winds, seasonal rainfall, temperature, relative humidity and other climatic elements, particularly during the monsoon season.

The Climate of Sri Lanka is dominated by the above-mentioned topographical features of the country and the Southwest and Northeast monsoons regional scale wind regimes. The Climate experienced during 12 months period in Sri Lanka can be characterized in to 4 climate seasons as follows.

 

1. First Inter-Monsoon Season - March - April

 

2. Southwest Monsoon Season - May - September

 

3. Second Inter-Monsoon Season - October - November

 

4. Northeast Monsoon Season - December - February



Sri Lanka is a round-the-year destination for the visitors who seek for sun and sea and the best time to visit the island is considered from November to April.
 

 


 
What to wear


Sri Lanka has a tropical climate, so it is recommended to wear lightweight and breathable fabrics such as cotton or linen to stay cool and comfortable in the hot and humid weather.

When visiting temples, mosques, or other religious sites, it is important to dress modestly and remove footwear before entering. Long pants or skirts and shirts that cover the shoulders are typically appropriate.



 
Photography - Permits & Restrictions


Sri Lanka is a tremendously photogenic island. The stunning landscapes, the captivating fauna and lush flora, and the stupendous archaeological remains provide great opportunities: a bonus is that Sri Lankans love to be captured on camera.

Permits
Tourists who wish to visit and or photograph the principal ancient monuments in Sri Lanka are required to purchase a ticket at the site.

Restrictions
There are some important restrictions that apply to photography in religious places. When you visit a temple or other religious site, remember that photography should not be carried out in a manner causing disrespect. For instance, it is strictly forbidden to be photographed in front of or beside any statues and murals. Flash photography should not be carried out as it can damage old murals.