Sri Lanka has a recorded history that spans back 3000 years. Like its massive neighbour India, Sri Lanka is a diverse country, home to many religions, ethnicities and languages. It is also still blessed with a variety of wildlife that has survived alongside this human civilization, on this small island for centuries. Today it offers tourists a diverse experience - from the modern city of Colombo with its sky scrapers to national parks teeming with elephants and religious and cultural buildings of multiple origins.
Rich in history, modern day Sri Lanka blends the strong influences of the Portuguese, Dutch and British settlers who occupied the island. Today it relishes the freedom which the end to the thirty year civil war has brought in the past year. Sri Lanka gained its independence from the British in February 1948 and today is setting out on a path to becoming a more developed and prosperous country.
Key
Capital: Colombo Population: 20.1 million Total area: 25,332 sq miles
Airport: Bandaranaike Int. Airport
Currency: Sri Lankan Rupee (Rs)
Time Zone: Winter - 5 ½ hours ahead of GMT, Summer – 4 ½ hours ahead of GMT
Languages: The main language spoken in the country and in the southern regions is Sinhala. To the north of the country, Tamil is more widely spoken by the locals. However all over the country English is widely spoken in the tourist areas and in all of the hotels.
The Weather
7° north of the equator, Sri Lanka enjoys a tropical climate with temperatures in Colombo and on the beach between 26°c to 32°c.
However, the rainfall varies considerably during the year and it is important to know when the Monsoon affect the different parts of the island.
Northeast monsoon: November to February
Southeast monsoon: April to June
Passport & Visa – Passports requiring a visa should have one blank page and be valid for at least six months from date of departure from Sri Lanka. If you are travelling on a British passport you need to obtain an electronic visa prior to departure. Most countries do require a visa and may be obtained electronically depending on nationality. www.eta.gov.lk The cost for the visa is $50per person.
Immigration Arrival & Departure forms - these need to be completed within 72 hours of arriving & departing from Sri Lanka, for each passport. It is a simple online procedure. https://eservices.immigration.gov.lk/emb/eEmbarkation/'#/home-page.
Vaccinations - You are strongly advised to visit a doctor for confirmation of the requirements for vaccinations. Usually it is recommended that you are inoculated for polio, tetanus, typhoid and hepatitis A and B.
Religion – Sri Lanka is a multi-faith society. Although 60% are Buddhists, the remainder are Hindu, Christian and Muslim. In many places, temples, churches and mosques can be seen adjacent to each other. When visiting temples and historic sites, it is required to wear trousers or items below the knee line & keep shoulders covered. Essentially a conservative society, it is important to maintain dignity at all times in public places.
Imported goods are in short supply. Please ensure that you carry any prescribed medication, travel medication, suntan lotions and mosquito repellent
Public Holidays – Sri Lanka is renowned for having many Public & Bank Holidays. Poya day is the name given to a Buddhist public holiday in Sri Lanka which occurs every full moon day, each month. Most shops and businesses are closed and no alcohol is served in public places on Poya days & other Public Holidays, including hotels and restaurants. A restricted alcohol service may be offered, by room service, in your hotel.
Currency and Cash –In Colombo, cash can be withdrawn from ATMs and there are plenty of banks which will change cash. ATMs are fairly widely available whilst touring. Most hotels will accept credit cards.. On arrival at the airport you will have the opportunity to change Sterling to Rupees. There are several banks which should be open on arrival and normally offer a fair exchange rate. You will struggle to purchase these in the UK as it isn’t legal tender out of Sri Lanka.
Tipping - As a developing country, rates of pay in Sri Lanka are well below the levels which are normal in Europe and a modest tip will be appreciated. At hotel we suggest a $10 -$15 (or equivalent in any currency) tip per room per night. Most boutique hotels operate a system of shared tips at the end of the stay to be shared by the whole team.
Driver / Guides – Your driver guide will generally stay with you throughout any organised tour. However, having been dropped to a beach resort you may be picked up by a different driver for any onward or airport transfer. The guides will speak good English and have been trained to act as your guide throughout your visit. It is important that you tell your driver guide what you like and dislike and don’t hesitate to ask him to stop or to vary your itinerary. He will, of course, advise you if you are going to incur any additional entrance fees or mileage charges. The driver / guide is paid by the tour company and his meals and accommodation have been organised. Your guide will not expect to normally eat with you in the evenings and it is up to you to invite him to join you at lunch time. Tipping is of course discretionary, but we would suggest $15-20 (or equivalent in any currency) dependent upon your experience. Hard currency is popular with the driver guides, so don’t bother changing into Rupees. You could plan to tip in pounds or dollars.
Roads – distances in Sri Lanka can be deceptive and take much longer than would be the equivalent journey in the UK. Today most main roads are well surfaced, but the volume of traffic and congested small towns makes journeys slow. Our driver guides have been trained to drive safely. However, if you are not comfortable with the style of driving, please do tell your driver guide accordingly.
Sea – On the South and West Coast the currents can be very strong throughout the year. It is always best to assume that swimming is dangerous and not do so until you have explored and asked further from your local hotel. Never swim in the sea when you are alone or after dark or against the advice of the hotel.
Mosquitoes – Unfortunately they exist and it is difficult to avoid them. We recommend that you use an insect repellent which is at least 50% Deet. You will struggle to find repellents with Deet in Sri Lanka so plan to take plenty with you. Put it on in the morning when you get up and reapply during the day. There is no Malaria in Colombo nor in most of the tourist areas in the Cultural Triangle, Hill Country nor Coastal region. However, Dengue is present in these areas and the best course of action is to prevent being bitten by applying insect repellent during the day as well.
Mobile and Internet – phone coverage is excellent in Sri Lanka and most hotels provide complimentary wifi. WhatsApp is an useful method of keeping in contact with your driver guide as well as those back at home. Our driver guides also have limited wifi in the vehicle.
Clothing requirements – when visiting the country hill areas of Kandy and Nuwara Eliya, the temperatures can drop in the evening and it is advised to travel with a light jumper or jacket. When dinning in the evening in hotels, very few hotels require trousers, collared shirts & closed shoes to be worn. Light cotton materials are ideal for the climate of Sri Lanka. We would advise you to take sturdy shoes for walking on uneven ground or trekking. Knees and shoulders must be covered when visiting temples for men and women. Children under the age of 8 from the rules of covering in the temples.
Water – Travel Gallery is committed to eliminating single use plastic where ever possible. Most of the hotels that we work with have safe drinking water available and we encourage you to travel with a water bottle and to refill at the hotels. Tap water is generally clean to wash your teeth in. Bottled water is widely available from supermarkets and shops around the country if you feel uncomfortable about drinking the safe drinking water offered by the hotels.
Alcohol – Alcohol is served in most hotels and can be bought freely in supermarkets and from off-sales shops. A small number of boutique hotels do not have an alcohol license but may have arrangements in place to purchase on your behalf. Please note that the sale of Alcohol is strictly forbidden on most religious & public holidays and including all Poya days. Hotels are permitted only to serve alcohol in your hotel room on these days and not in public areas. The government has from time to time also decreed additional days when Alcohol sales are restricted.
Jewellery – We generally do not recommend buying jewellery. If you decide to purchase an item of jewellery please be very cautious as there are many unscrupulous jewellers. In Colombo there are plenty of jewellers to choose from and you can walk into larger shops in Colombo with reasonable confidence, providing you are clear on what you are buying. Please be aware that driver guides are normally well rewarded if they introduce a client to a jeweller. We have our personal favourite – Sena Gems 41-B Ridgeway Place, Marine Drive, Colombo. This is unpretentious shop and we have always found them to be good value for money and it is where we go to buy jewellery.
Tuk Tuks & taxis – three wheelers to the locals- are great to use for short journeys and in the evenings- not air conditioned and they don’t always try to avoid the pot holes. Always negotiate with the driver to agree the fare before you set off. For a 10 minute journey on average would cost around $3-5 in rupees depending on the time of day. Taxi’s can be ordered, are metered and are cheap (often cheaper than a Tuk Tuk). Cars are also available from all of the major hotels, they will quote a fare before the journey – but they are the most expensive option.
Food – Sri Lankan curries are hot so beware. However, you will find in all of the hotels and certainly in Colombo that your choice of food is extensive and it’s a lot cheaper than the UK! When in Colombo and Galle it is well advised to eat out of your hotel and experience some amazing quality food.
Supermarkets - Throughout the island there are small to medium sized supermarkets in most towns. Cargills, Keels and Arpico are the three main chains which you can reply upon. Many supermarkets will also have a small and reliable pharmacy within the shop. Imported goods such as suntan lotions.
Restaurants – Colombo offers a great variety of places to eat out and in comparison with the UK offers great value for money. Outside of Colombo & Galle there are more limited opportunities to experience good restaurants except in hotels.
Maldives overview
Time: GMT + 5, Most Island Resorts are on Island time which is GMT +6. This can appear confusing when you are advised about your departure time from the island
Area 298 sq km , Population 369,680 (2016), Capital Malé
Climate
The Maldives boasts a hot tropical climate. There are two monsoons, the southwest from May to October and the northeast from November to April. Generally the southwest brings more wind and rain in June and July. The temperature rarely falls below 25°C (77°F).
Health care
There are two hospitals on Malé, the Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital and the ADK private hospital. First aid facilities are available on all resort islands. A decompression chamber is accessible in Malé in case of diving emergencies. Medical treatment in the Maldives can be very expensive and comprehensive health insurance is essential.
Language
The national language is Dhivehi. English is widely used as a business language in government offices and the commercial sector. Other languages are also widely used within tourist areas.
Passport and visa Passports
Valid passports are required for all nationals.
Tourist visas for 30 days will be issued on arrival only and are free of charge to all visitors in possession of valid travel documents. If port health is satisfied that you have not been through any countries with serious contagion, you are can enter. After luggage retrieval, do note that there is no Green Channel. All passengers’ luggage is screened, normally electronically. Keep the keys to any luggage locks handy in case a manual inspection is called for. The import of any alcohol is strictly prohibited. You may be asked whether you have any movies or CDs. Answer all questions in a straightforward manner. After Immigration and Customs proceed to arrivals.
(a) Foreign visitors who enter the Maldives must be in possession of return or onward tickets and a minimum of USD 100 and USD 50 per person per day or confirmed hotel reservation for the intended period of stay in the Maldives.
(b) Tourist visas can be extended by 90 days (including the initial 30 days granted on arrival) by applying to the immigration department.
Religion
The indigenous population is entirely Sunni Muslim and the group practice of other religions is illegal. Please note do NOT bring any Religous icons into the country such as Buddha statues which you may have purchased elesewhere on your holiday - they may be impounded at the airport.
Social Conventions
The majority of the indigenous population does not mix with the tourist visitors, with the exception of those involved with tourism in the resorts and Malé. Dress is informal, but locals who are Muslim will be offended by nudity or immodest clothing in public places, and the government rigidly enforces these standards. Bikinis and other scanty beachwear are not acceptable in Malé or on any other inhabited island; they should be restricted to resort islands only. When entering a mosque, the legs and the body, but not the neck and the face, should be covered. Handshaking is the most common form of greeting. The indigenous population not involved in the tourist trade lives in isolated island communities maintaining almost total privacy. A large number of locals smoke, but smoking and eating during Ramadan is discouraged.
