SRI LANKA TRAVEL TIPS

 

With effect from 1st January 2012, all Holiday or Business travelers to Sri Lanka must have Electronic Travel  Authorization (ETA) for entering in to Sri Lanka. Please visit www.srilankaevisa.lk/ for more information.  When applying for an ETA by third parties, payments are to be made through the arrangement made on the website and obtain acknowledgement of ETA application. Any payments made to other websites or agencies are  not valid to process a valid ETA. Therefore, always ensure that the payments made by accessing to Sri  Lanka ETA website and avoid making repayment at the port of entry to Sri Lanka 

Before You Go 

No vaccinations are compulsory unless you are coming from a yellow fever or cholera area. (Cholera is  very occasionally reported in Sri Lanka, so is not considered a serious risk.) However, the following  vaccinations are recommended, particularly if you plan a long trip or intend visiting remote areas: 

Typhoid (monovalent), Polio, Tetanus, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Rabies 

Children should, in addition, be protected against: 

diphtheria, whooping cough, mumps, measles, rubella 

Remember to plan well ahead with vaccinations. Allow up to six weeks to receive the full course, for some vaccinations require more than one dose, and some should not be given together. 

The risk of malaria exists throughout the whole country apart from the districts of Colombo, Kalutara and  Nuwara Eliya. Medication has to start one week prior to travel, continue during the trip, and finish four  weeks after your return. Once again, planning is essential, as well as care to ensure the course is followed. 

What To Wear 

Cotton clothes are useful at any time of the year but you will need light woolens/ sweaters / Jackets for  the hills and waterproof clothing or an umbrella. Modest dress for women is advisable especially off the  beach and when visiting religious sites. Don’t forget comfortable shoes, sandals or trainers and cotton  socks. If you are planning to trek and climb go prepared with suitable gear. Water sports enthusiasts  would do well to take their snorkels and diving equipment along. 

Getting There 

Usually all visitors to Sri Lanka travel by air; flights arrive at the Bandaranaike International Airport, 35 km  north of Colombo, and 6 km from Negombo. A number of tour operators from the UK and some West European  cities offer good value package holidays throughout the year. 

Public Places 

You may sometimes be overwhelmed by crowds of people in public places (railway stations, markets,  bus stands, temples or simply busy streets). “Touts” and hawkers may jostle and push and clamour to  show you a hotel and sell you things. Taxis and three – wheelers are often there when you do not need  them.

 

Safety 

In general the threats to personal security for travelers in Sri Lanka are remarkably small. It is more  pleasant to travel with a companion as it is advised not to travel alone especially after dark. The island  including the North and East is safe to visit. If you have anything stolen, report it to the tourist Police, (a  special tourist police set up to look after the needs of the tourists. Contact tel Number + 94 11 2382209 

 

Where To Stay 

Sri Lank Offers visitors an excellent range of accommodation facilities to suit all budgets from luxury hotels  to low budget accommodations. In the peak season (mid-January and during Easter) bookings can be  heavy so it is best to reserve accommodation well in advance through Tour operators/ travel agents,  booking online and through our travel planner. 

Drink 

Sri Lankan ‘Ceylon’ tea is prepared as in the West and coffee too. There are a huge variety of bottled soft  drinks, including well-known international brands. Thambili (king coconut water)is a safe and refreshing  option. Local beer and spirits are widely available. Bottled mineral water is available in 5 star hotels. Please  note: Alcohol is not sold on Poya (full-moon day of the month) days. 

Photo Permits & Entrance Charges 

Sri Lanka is a photographer’s delight. However, permits are required before you can take photos at certain  sites. Entrance tickets to individual sites are available only from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. These tickets cover  charges for photography, recording and parking. Rates are quoted in US Dollars and rupee parities are  subject to fluctuation.

 

WHEN YOU ARE THERE….. 

Upset Stomach 

As most stomach upsets are due to the unsanitary preparation of food, it is useful to know what to watch  out for. Under-cooked fish (especially shellfish) and meat (especially pork and mince) can be hazardous.  Salads can be risky unless purified water has been used to wash the various vegetables. Fruit that has  already been peeled should be avoided. Be careful of ice cream, in particular the varieties sold by street  vendors and served at cheap restaurants. Sometimes there are power outages in Sri Lanka, especially away  from urban centers, so it pays to be suspicious of all refrigerated foods if you know there has been a  recent outage in your area. 

Sunburn 

When you flop onto the beach or poolside lounge for a spot of sunbathing, always remember to apply a  sunscreen product with a sun protection factor of at least 15. Remember you are just 600 km from the  equator. Even with sunscreen, your sunbathing should be limited in time. If you don’t apply sunscreen you  are liable to become so sunburnt that it will be painful to move, your skin will peel, you will have to start  afresh to get that tan, and most importantly you put yourself at risk of serious dermatological disease. 

Heatstroke 

Sometimes those who have spent too long in the sun suffer what is termed heatstroke, the most common  form being caused by dehydration. This condition can occur if the body’s heat-regulating mechanism  becomes weakened and the body temperature rises to unsafe levels. The symptoms are a high  temperature – yet a lack of sweat – a flushed skin, severe headache, and impaired coordination. In  addition, the sufferer may become confused. If you think someone has a heat stroke, take that person out  of the sun, cover their body with a wet sheet or towel, and seek medical advice. To avoid heatstroke, take  plenty of bottled water to the beach, or buy a thambili (king coconut) from an itinerant seller. 

Prickly Heat 

Prickly heat rash occurs when your sweat glands become clogged after being out in the heat for too long  or from excessive perspiration. The rash appears as small red bumps or blisters on elbow creases, groin,  upper chest or neck. To treat it, take a cold shower, clean the rash with mild soap, dry yourself, apply  hydrocortisone cream, and if possible, a product that contains salicylic acid. Repeat every three hours. 

Local Health Care 

 

Minor health problems can always be treated by doctors with practices in the resorts and elsewhere in  the country. If you have a more serious problem, Colombo now boasts a selection of modern, well equipped private hospitals offering the latest in conventional medical and surgical therapies. A growing  number of foreigners are taking advantage of affordable, high quality private healthcare in Sri Lanka, and  combining it with the chance to take a holiday. Though the medical tourism industry in Sri Lanka is still in  its early days, a number of private hospitals in Colombo are geared to provide advanced surgery and  other treatment to international clients.

 

Travelers With Special Needs 

 

Travelers with special needs, especially if they visit Sri Lanka without a companion, should note that the  country has relatively few facilities for disabled people, although greater awareness and improvements  are evolving. There’s no need to worry at Colombo’s Airport as wheelchairs and assistance in boarding  and disembarking are available. Buildings, offices, and banks are becoming better-equipped with  wheelchair ramps and suchlike. If you aren’t traveling with a companion, you’ll find that Sri Lankans will  be only too eager to assist. 

Sri Lanka’s Currency 

 

The local currency is the Sri Lankan Rupee, divided into 100 cents (you rarely come across scents today).  Currency notes are Rs.5,000, Rs2,000, Rs1,000, Rs500, Rs100, Rs50, Rs20 and Rs10. Beware of mistaking the  Rs500 note for the somewhat similar Rs100 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 Rs10. 

Make sure you have plenty of lower denomination notes (Rs50, Rs100, Rs500), especially when traveling  and you need to buy small items, fruit, and eat cheap meals, because change is often hard to come by  apart from at hotels and big shops. 

Banks 

Banks are open from 0900 hrs to 1300 hours Monday to Friday. Some city banks close at 1500 hrs, while  some are open on Saturday mornings. It.s easy to withdraw money across the island at ATMs using  international credit cards or debit cards. 

Credit Cards 

Most hotels, restaurants and shopping centers accept credit cards. Some establishments may try to add  a surcharge, which is illegal. 

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 

230. 240 volts, 50 cycles AC. If you travel with a laptop computer, bring a stabilizer. 

Language 

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

 

Photography, Restrictions & Permits 

Sri Lanka is a tremendously photogenic island, so it’s hardly surprising that most tourists bring a camera  of some kind when they visit the country. 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 film. So it’s easy to capture the traditional rural lifestyle. You.ll find villagers, farmers,  fishermen and tea pluckers will readily stand in front of your viewfinder. Your subjects will often ask to  have a copy of the picture sent to them. This may be laborious, but it is a reasonable courtesy as many may  never have seen a picture of themselves. It is also understandable that many will also expect a token  recompense for allowing themselves to be photographed. 

Restrictions 

There are some important restrictions that apply to photography regarding Buddhist imagery. 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. Note that flash photography can damage old murals. 

Permits 

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

Central Cultural Fund, 

212/1, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, 

Colombo-07 

Tel: +94-11 2587912 /2500733 /2581944 

[email protected] 

Central Cultural Fund offices at Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya and Kandy. 

A single round ticket for two months validity costs US$50 and will entitle you to visit and photograph  historic monuments such as Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya, Nalanda, Ritigala, Medirigiriya. There  are separate charges at each site for those who do not obtain round tickets: Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa  and Sigiriya US$25, Nalanda US$5, Ritigala US$8, Medirigiriya US$5. 

When To Visit 

Sri Lanka is a round-the-year destination for the visitors who seek for sun and sea. The best time to visit  the island is from November to April. The Southwestern coastal area, where most of the beach resorts  are located.Kalpitiya, located in the western ( North Western)coast has been declared a new tourist  attraction. Many development projects have also been planned such as hotels and other infrastructure  to make the East a new tourist destination in Sri Lanka. 

The central highlands are pleasantly cool and relatively dry from January to April. The peak season is mid  December to mid January and March-April during Easter with a mini peak season in July and August  when festivals and pageants are held throughout the country.