Welcome to the official tourist guide to Sri Lanka. Here, you fill find all the information you need to make your stay in Sri Lanka as enjoyable and as relaxing as possible. If you have never considered Sri Lanka as a holiday destination, then you are missing out!
Sri Lanka was once called the Pearl of the Indian Ocean. Situated just south of the Southern most tip of India, Sri Lanka is a tropical island. With a friendly and laid back population of about 22 million, and a rich history dating as far back as 1500 BC. With a mix of difference races and religions, many ex-patriots, and even a Chinese community, Sri Lanka is a melting pot of different cultures.
From balmy beaches to freezing blue mountains, from backpacker style digs to world renown five star accommodation, Sri Lanka has it all. This site has all the information you need to make your stay as peaceful or as exciting as you wish.
Scuba Diving and Snorkelling In Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is an Island. Therefore there are many fantastic places you can scuba dive and snorkel. The Coral and fish in Sri Lanka are very beautiful and most of the dive sites have not yet been spoiled by development. The best places for snorkeling and diving are Pidgeon island off Trincomalee which is in the North-East shore, Unawatuna which is down the southern beach and Arugumbay which is along the South-Eastern coast. All these locations have accommodation ranging from 3 star resorts down to cheap hotels. These locations also have shops wehre you can hire snorkeling and scuba gear and book a tour that will take you to the best snorkeling and diving sites.
The coral is Sri Lanka has not yet been bleached by the rising temperatures, so they are colorful and varied. The fish are also spectacular. We highly recommend Trincomalee as it has the best Coral and the fantastic Resort
The coral is Sri Lanka has not yet been bleached by the rising temperatures, so they are colorful and varied. The fish are also spectacular. We highly recommend Trincomalee as it has the best Coral and the fantastic Resort
What to Wear in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is a tropical island, just above the equator. The weather is hot and humid all year round. Sri Lanka is also a conservative and deeply religious country so the correct attire, dress guidelines and etiquette must be observed.
Light cotton clothing is always recommended. Bikini tops and ultra short pants are not always a good idea, especially for women.
In and around Colombo, you can wear what you wish and be as daring as you like. But in the outskirts and smaller towns it's better to be conservative and wear longer knee-length pants and t-shirts.
When visiting religious attractions, women and men must be covered past the knees. Some places of worship such as the Dalada Maligawa supply sarongs for visitors, but not all attractions offer such services.
There are no nude beaches in Sri Lanka. There are also no private beaches in Sri Lanka. Every beach is public. When within the confines of the resort you may wear that you like and sunbathe topless. But at the beach you should not go topless unless you want to attract unwarranted attention.
Light cotton clothing is always recommended. Bikini tops and ultra short pants are not always a good idea, especially for women.
In and around Colombo, you can wear what you wish and be as daring as you like. But in the outskirts and smaller towns it's better to be conservative and wear longer knee-length pants and t-shirts.
When visiting religious attractions, women and men must be covered past the knees. Some places of worship such as the Dalada Maligawa supply sarongs for visitors, but not all attractions offer such services.
There are no nude beaches in Sri Lanka. There are also no private beaches in Sri Lanka. Every beach is public. When within the confines of the resort you may wear that you like and sunbathe topless. But at the beach you should not go topless unless you want to attract unwarranted attention.
Learn About Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is a small island off the southern most tip of India. It has about 65,000 square meters of land and is home to about 21 million people. It has warm tropical weather all year round and two monsoon seasons. Sri Lanka has beautiful beaches and fantastic mountain rages and is one of the most scenic countries in the world. Sri Lanka's is classed as a developing nation which make the cost of living very cheap for holiday makers. Here are some important facts about Sri Lanka for Holiday makers.
English is the second language and 95% of Sri Lankans can understand and communicate in English.
Cars drive on the left hand side of the road.
The local currency is the Sri Lankan Ruppe LKR, which usually trades at 110 LKR per 1 USD.
The climate is tropical so it is always hot and humid. Light cotton clothing is always recommended.
Sri Lanka's culture is based on buddhism, the main religion. It is a conservative culture and Sri Lankans are sensitive to uninhibited behaviour in public such as kissing and skimpy clothing. Pants and t-shirts are always a safe bet. Shorts are okay but longer pants are preferable.
Colombo is the capital and most of the shopping and night clubs are in and around Colombo.
All the best holiday hotels and best beaches are in a long strip down the Southern Coast of Sri Lanka, about 3 hours drive from Colombo.
The best wild life park, Yala, is located at the Southern most point in Sri Lanka, it's about 6 hours drive from colombo.
The best snorkeling is the North-Eastern beach of Trincomalee, which is about 5 hours drive from Colombo.
English is the second language and 95% of Sri Lankans can understand and communicate in English.
Cars drive on the left hand side of the road.
The local currency is the Sri Lankan Ruppe LKR, which usually trades at 110 LKR per 1 USD.
The climate is tropical so it is always hot and humid. Light cotton clothing is always recommended.
Sri Lanka's culture is based on buddhism, the main religion. It is a conservative culture and Sri Lankans are sensitive to uninhibited behaviour in public such as kissing and skimpy clothing. Pants and t-shirts are always a safe bet. Shorts are okay but longer pants are preferable.
Colombo is the capital and most of the shopping and night clubs are in and around Colombo.
All the best holiday hotels and best beaches are in a long strip down the Southern Coast of Sri Lanka, about 3 hours drive from Colombo.
The best wild life park, Yala, is located at the Southern most point in Sri Lanka, it's about 6 hours drive from colombo.
The best snorkeling is the North-Eastern beach of Trincomalee, which is about 5 hours drive from Colombo.
Cost of Living in Sri Lanka For Tourists and Holiday Makers
Sri Lanka is a developing nation. As such the cost of living in Sri Lanka is very low in comparison to developed nations. Sri Lanka's per capita income on average is below US$ 200 a month. This means food, drink and accommodation is fairly cheap. You can save money and extend your holiday by making use of the cheap living expenses.
However, booking accommodation as tourists or foreigners with travel agents, always lead to higher prices. But you can avail yourself of the cheap cost of living by eating out at the various restaurants, buying food, drink and liqour in the grocery chains such as Cargills and Keels. Do not buy anything from the hotels you are staying in as all the prices will be marked up specially for tourists.
Also if you wish to buy jewelery and clothing, it is better to travel to the capital Colombo, where there are plenty of Clothing shops such as Odel and jewelry shops such as Vogue, Alankara etc, any big shopping centers. These shops/chains usually have prices marked on the items and this prevents tourists being charged extravagant amounts.
Imported luxury items tend to be costiler than other countries as Sri Lanka has a very high duty or tax rate on these items.
For comparison here are the cost of some basic items in US$. 1 US$ is approximately 100Rs. These prices are current and based on grocery chains and shopping centres.
However, booking accommodation as tourists or foreigners with travel agents, always lead to higher prices. But you can avail yourself of the cheap cost of living by eating out at the various restaurants, buying food, drink and liqour in the grocery chains such as Cargills and Keels. Do not buy anything from the hotels you are staying in as all the prices will be marked up specially for tourists.
Also if you wish to buy jewelery and clothing, it is better to travel to the capital Colombo, where there are plenty of Clothing shops such as Odel and jewelry shops such as Vogue, Alankara etc, any big shopping centers. These shops/chains usually have prices marked on the items and this prevents tourists being charged extravagant amounts.
Imported luxury items tend to be costiler than other countries as Sri Lanka has a very high duty or tax rate on these items.
For comparison here are the cost of some basic items in US$. 1 US$ is approximately 100Rs. These prices are current and based on grocery chains and shopping centres.
| Cost of 1 litre of fuel | 130Rs | 1.3 USD | |
| 1 kilo of rice | 70Rs | 0.70 USD | |
| Loaf of fresh bread | 30Rs | 0.30 USD | |
| Bottle of mineral water | 60Rs | 0.60 USD | |
| Rice packet with 2 curries and meat | 100 Rs | 1.00 USD | |
| 1 Kilo of fresh fish | 500Rs | 5.0 USD | |
| 1 Kilo of fresh prawns | 450Rs | 4.5 USD | |
| Average cost of dining out( per head) | 1000Rs | 10 USD | |
| Hilton seafood buffet | 4000Rs | 40 USD |
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