Sri Lanka Travel Info & Visa

1.    Airport Check-In
Always arrive at the airport 2 hours before departure time to facilitate check-in.

2.    Passport
An international passport with a minimum validity of 6 months from the date of arrival into Sri Lanka is required.

3.    Visa
Visa can be obtained free of charge upon arrival at immigration for Singaporeans up to a maximum stay of 30 days. Application requires 2 passport size photos.

4.    Time Difference
Sri Lanka is 2.5 hours behind Singapore time.

5.    Vaccination
No specific vaccination is recommended prior to the trip. You can consult your family doctor or visit the nearest clinic in your neighbourhood for consultation at least a month before your trip if you confirm your trip early. There is also a travel clinic at Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

6.    Currency
Sri Lankan Rupees (LKR). The exchange rate is estimated at SGD1 = Rs80, subject to fluctuation. LKR is not available in Singapore. You can change LKR with SGD or USD. Currency exchange can be done in airport, hotels or banks in Colombo.

7.    Prohibited Goods
Restricted items include firearms, ammunitions, explosives and weapons, plants, fruits, birds and by-products, medication (unless it is for personal use), and goods for commercial purposes. Prohibited items include drugs or narcotics, pornographic material, and material that ridicules religious belief systems.

8.    Electricity
The power supply is 230 – 240 volts. Normal outlets are for plugs with 2 rounded prongs. We suggest that you bring along a international plug available in all electrical shops. If you travel with a laptop computer bring a stabilizer. Do bring along a torchlight for emergency case.

9.    Clothing
For touring and sightseeing, lightweight comfortable casual clothing is recommended. Do keep in handy a hat, sunblock lotion and sunglasses. Warm clothing or a light jacket for night is recommended. As there will be a lot of walking during tours, you are advised to bring a pair of flat, comfortable walking shoes. For trekkers, a packing list guideline will be sent to you.

10.    Hotel Facilities
Generally air-conditioner, television, in-room movie channel & free coffee/tea making facility are available in the hotel rooms. All beverages consumed from the mini bar is at personal expense. Most hotels in the city have internet facilities in their business centre which are chargeable.

11.    Communications
The international country dialling code for Sri Lanka is +94. The outgoing code is 00, followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0065 for Singapore). City or area codes are in use, e.g. (0)11 for Central Colombo. International direct dial facilities are available in Colombo and other major cities. Mobile phone operators provide GSM frequency networks with coverage across all the main parts of the island. Internet cafes are available in the main towns and resorts.

12.    Shopping
Sri Lanka offers an interesting and existing array of items for shoppers. Gems, Finished Garments, Batiks, Tea and Handicrafts are popular shopping itineraries among the tourists. Handlooms fabric materials, leather products, furniture, reproduction of antiques, jewellery and ceramic are also popular with visitors of fine taste who appreciate the very best.

13.    Tipping
Tipping is a common practice while you are on a tour. It is always a good gesture and customary to tip the driver and the local guides. Guideline for tipping is SGD3/day for tour guide and SGD2/day for driver for each passenger on leisure tours. Please note this is just a guideline.It is entirely up to each individual to decide how much they want to tip as experiences may vary.

14.    Food & Beverage
A typical Sri Lankan meal would consist of a main curry of fish, meat or poultry, several other curries made with vegetables and pulses such as lentils plus condiments such as chutneys and sambols which are generally extremely (spicy) hot and made from various ingredients such as coconut, onions, lime juice and chillies. All the dishes are placed on the table at the same time and diners help themselves to a little of everything using a dessertspoon and fork or their fingers. Perhaps the most distinctive nature of Sri Lankan food is the use of Maldive fish (dried fish) which is added as a flavour enhancer to vegetable dishes. Coconut and chilli also form an integral part of most Sri Lankan dishes.

Sri Lankans also like to have drinks like tea and coffee. Sri Lanka is among the topmost producers of tea in the world.

15.    Language
Most people speak Sinhala, which is the national and official language. Tamil is also spoken, and English is spoken at most tourist establishments.

16.    Culture
Photography near government or military buildings is prohibited. Homosexuality is illegal. Topless sunbathing is not allowed, and visitors, particularly women, should cover up when entering Buddhist sites. It is considered offensive to pose for photographs in front of a Buddha statue. Smoking and drinking in public are forbidden. Honour, or personal dignity, is extremely important to Sri Lankans and causing an individual to ‘lose face’ by public criticism or anger should be avoided.

Disclaimer:
The above info serves only as a guideline and is subject to changes. Divine International Explore & Treks will not be held responsible for misinformation or omission intentionally or otherwise. All information are subjected to changes without prior notice. For more information, please check out travel literature or websites.

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