It is a strict requirement for citizens of all countries except those who are from The Republic of Singapore and Maldives.
The Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) is an official authorization for a Short Visit to Sri Lanka issued via an online system. You need ETA if you wish to visit Sri Lanka as a Tourist, on Business or on Transit. No passport copies, documents or photographs are required to obtain ETA.
The non-refundable ETA processing charge for a tourist visa with Double Entry for 30 days for citizens of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries amounts to USD $15. For those from all other countries, it will cost USD $30. However, during the sometime of the year government offers FREE visa for tourist as a tourism promotion strategy, hence inquiry from your travel consultant before applying for the visa.
Most hotels and resorts provide free unlimited internet facilities. Internet cafes with ADSL connection are found in every town. The connections in some remote towns will be slow. The average cost of surfing in a Cyber Cafe is about USD 0.50 per hour.
Dialling out, you need to dial ’00’and the relevant country code before the number (Ex: 0044 xxx xx). Dialling within the country, inside a particular district, say, Colombo, you don’t have to dial its area code (Ex: just dial 2XXXXXX)
Yes. If you have a ‘dual-band’ & unlocked phone, you can buy a rechargeable (top-up card) local SIM from several mobile operators, namely, Dialog, Mobitel, Etisalat, Hutch and Airtel. Most of the service provides have their counters at the exit point of Colombo CMB Airport where you can buy a connection for Rs. 1500/= (estimated USD 10.00)
Sinhala and Tamil are two official languages in the country. English is the third language which is generally understood by most people. English is spoken at all accommodations, major restaurants and shops. Road signs and warning signs are mostly written both in Sinhalese and English.
Most of the accommodations will provide you a small unit with a repellent tablet that can plug-into electricity. You can purchase the mats (small inserted to the plug-in unit), the burning coils or citronella candles from most local supermarkets. Apply some repellent lotion when dining outdoors, etc.
Sri Lanka has one of the most reliable healthcare systems in the developing world. However, emergency medical facilities may not be widely available outside of the main cities. Those who are travelling from Africa or Latin America must have a valid certificate of vaccination for Yellow fever and Meningitis before the arrival.
Yes. The country is at immense peace and well known as one of the safest places to travel. Tourists visit Sri Lanka in record numbers especially after the civil war came to an end in 2009. Since then many global travel magazines named Sri Lanka is one of the safest travel destinations in the planet. The country feels the pervading sense of peace, safety and stability as they relish the pristine glory of the small island nation. BH Lanka Tours also ensures the safety and security of our guest at all the time.
As per the norms and ethics in travelling, you been asked to keep your valuables like money, passport, tickets, jewels etc in the safe deposit locker or in a locked bag at the accommodation.
BH Lanka Tours offers a wide range of accommodation from luxury boutique resorts, villas, Eco lodge and safari camps. Some of our off-road nature & adventure tours that involve in travelling to remote or undeveloped outstation locations where the accommodation facilities might relatively poor but of International tourist standard may not exist.
Sri Lankan food is exclusively based on rice and curry. A portion of meal mostly contains few verities of Sri Lankan vegetables along with a chicken, fish or beef curry. In a small standard restaurant, one Sri Lankan meal will cost nearly Rs 1000.00 (USD 5)
All Star class hotels and major restaurants sport a ‘vegetarian section’ in the menu. The smaller local ‘rice and curry’ restaurants may request the food is vegetarian; however, the ‘South Indian’ vegetarian restaurants are purely vegetarian. Please notify BH Lanka Tours customer service about your meal preferences and we will do the necessary arrangements.
‘Halal’ food is not much common in many restaurants. However, upon request we can arrange accommodations where they serve Halal foods. Apart from the Halal restaurants in Colombo and Kandy, they’re hardly elsewhere. The best alternative seems to be seafood.
There are plenty of fresh fruit juices available both in major restaurants and smaller ones. It’s as much delectable as healthy. Popular international soft drinks are found even in the small village boutiques. King Coconut is a refreshing sweet, clean and cheap natural drink you’ll find by the wayside.
Mainly, you can have Ceylon Tea which hailed as the world’s best taste of tea. If you’re a coffee fan, local coffee may be up to your taste, but bit strong. If you are fond espresso, you may get it while in Colombo and Kandy but not elsewhere.
We recommend you to use Bottled water in containers with serrated seal without tops or corks. Most hotel rooms have boiled water in thermos flasks, which is safe to drink. BH Lanka Tours also provides a bottle of (1 ml) water per person each day.
Sri Lanka produces a local beer call “Lion Larger” which is very popular among tourists. Also, two variations of local liquor named Toddy & Arrack. Toddy is a natural intoxicating drink, tapped from the palm trees. Fermented and refined toddy becomes Arrack. Imported beer and foreign alcoholic liquors are available to purchase and it’s cost almost the same as in most Western and European countries.
No. Smoking and having liquor in public areas is strictly prohibited in Sri Lanka. The smoking ban is also in effect at enclosed public places such as restaurants and social clubs. However, there are some particular paces for smirking has been arranged in those places.
True. Full Moon days are known as Poya days in the Buddhist world. It is the day dedicated to Buddhists devotees to do their prayers and meditation. Out of respect for Buddhist religious rites, abstinence is practised. The government has decreed that all liquor shops and butcher shops remain closed on Poya days.
No. Instead of International Bank Account Numbers (IBAN), Sri Lanka like most other Asian countries, USA and Australia use the current Bank Identifier Code system (BIC or SWIFT code) along with the BBAN (Basic Bank Account Number).
ATM’s machines are located in most of the town and cities. You’re allowed to take cash against Visa / MasterCard in most ATM’s. However, as different banks accept different cards, we recommend you to ensure that your card is valid for use in Sri Lanka by contacting
Credit Cards are widely used and accepted by local establishments. The most popular card types are Visa and MasterCard. It would be a convenient option to use your Credit Card (valid for international use) whenever possible.
Any foreign currency can be exchanged at Colombo CMB airport. You could spot a few money exchange counters are situated at the exit point. Also, your tour driver can assist you to exchange money at the local banks.
Please keep with you whatever receipts of exchange (including ATM receipts) for monies declared. This will be useful when re-exchanging to foreign currency and taking your money-back out of the country.
If you intend to take out from Sri Lanka a sum exceeding the USD $5000(or its equivalent in Euro or some other currency) in currency notes (out of the money brought in), you must declare the total amount brought in, even if it’s less than US$ 15,000.
You can bring any amount of money in foreign currencies into Sri Lanka. It could be in TC’s, Bank drafts or currency notes. But, if the total is more than the USD $15,000 (or its equivalent in Euro or some other currency) that sum must be declared to Sri Lanka Customs
Banks take 0.5% handling fee and generally a commission, which differs from bank to bank. We recommend you to convert only that amount of money you need for spending.
You should take off your shoes and hat when entering a Buddhist or Hindu temple. If you’re carrying an umbrella, unfurl it. Your legs & shoulders should be covered; never enter a temple in beachwear (i.e. shorts or singlet).
It’s advisable to bring one set of evening wear as larger hotels insist on ‘long attire’ for men during dinner (no shorts and no sandals). Ladies could come in dresses, skirts or long shorts, but not in any beach/swimwear.
Lightweight, light coloured cotton clothes are ideal for the warm climes of a tropical country like Sri Lanka. We’d like to recommend that you pack some warm clothes if you are planning to visit the hilly regions, where the evenings tend to get chilling.
Strictly avoid inserting an 110V – 120V appliance (E.g. hairdryer) into a Sri Lankan 240V plug base; you might find it catching fire in your hands!
Sri Lankan hotels have two types of plug bases; either the UK (Type G) or India (Type D).
The voltage is Sri Lanka is 220 - 240 volts.
Your housekeeping staff, doorman, bellboy all expect a little tip. A tip between 200 – 400 rupees (1-2 USD) for each service is considered adequate. You guide or driver on tour will expect something between USD 5 to 15 a day (depending on your level of satisfaction)
Tipping is accepted. Although a 10% service charge is included in bills for food and accommodation, tipping is a customary way of showing your appreciation for services rendered.
Sri Lanka is well known for Gemstone, some of the famous stones are Blue Sapphires, Rubies, Orange-pink sapphires and many more. Also, there is a wide range of unique handicraft on sale. Sri Lankan handmade masks are a very popular collector’s item. Other recommendations are batiks, wood carvings, Moonstones, lacquer-ware, handmade Silver- and Brass objects and don’t forget the famous ‘Ceylon Tea’.
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