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At a glance
Sri Lanka
Visa-vis
All visitors, with the exception
of citizens of Singapore,
Seychelles and the Maldives,
will need a visa to enter Sri
Lanka. You can get a short-
stay visa online at eta.gov.
lk/slvisa/. Although it is still
possible to get a tourist visa
on arrival, it’s recommended
that you do this before
you travel.
Air time
4 hours from Singapore.
Cash & cards
The official currency of Sri
Lanka is the Sri Lankan Rupee
(LKR). Most major banks will
change US dollars, Euro and
GBP. Visa and MasterCard are
the commonly accepted credit
cards at top-end hotels and
restaurants. You will find ATMs
in major cities but do carry
cash for small purchases or if
you’re heading out of town.
Weather report
The best time to travel to the
western and southern coasts
and hill country is between
December and March. May
to September is a prime time
to see the eastern coastlines.
Mother tongue
The official languages of Sri
Lanka are Sinhala and Tamil.
English is widely spoken.
First words
Hello:
Ayubowan
What is your name?
Oya geh nàma monadha?
My name is __:
Mageh
nàma __
How much?
Keeyah the?
Thank you:
Bohomus isthuthi
Yes:
Ohw
No thank you:
Nah isthuti
Salutations
The Sinhalese greeting is
“Ayubowan”, with hands
pressed together at chest level.
Light handshakes are common
among the younger generation.