Sri Lanka Travel Guide: what to know before leaving

Are you leaving for Sri Lanka? There are some important ones things to know before traveling and which could be very useful during your vacation in this beautiful Asian country.

Called Ceylon until 1972, Sri Lanka is an island located in the Indian Ocean south of India, Asia. Known for its natural beauty and rich colonial past, a Sri Lanka vacation is one of the most beautiful experiences you can have for lovers of dream beaches bathed by splendid crystal clear waters.

Both are you the reason for the holiday is a honeymoon, Both for romantic holidays as a couple or with family and children, it is important to be well informed before departure. Here are some important things to know before you leave.

Required documents

To visit Sri Lanka you need the passport, with a residual validity of at least six months. Also, a visa “ETA - Electronic Travel Authorization” admission, which lasts 30 days and costs 35 US dollars.

This visa can be requested online, on the website www.eta.gov.lk, or directly upon arrival at the airport, but in the latter case the cost is increased to US $ 40, because in addition to the $ 35 visa fee, there is also an administration fee of $ 5.

For tourist stays lasting from 31 to 90 days and for travel reasons other than tourism, it is essential to contact the consulates.

Time zone

Sri Lanka has a time zone of 4 hours and 30 minutes longer than in spain, that is, if in Spain it is 12:00 in Sri Lanka it will be 16:30. In the case of summer time the difference is 3 hours and 30 minutes forward.

Religion

Most of the Sinhala population practice the Buddhism (70%). Minority religions includeHinduism (practiced almost exclusively by the Tamil population), the Christianity with the Roman Catholic majority (about 6% of the population compared to 0,8% who are Anglicans) and theIslam (practiced by about 10% of the population).

Currency

The currency is the Sri Lankan rupee (LKR). The current exchange rate is 1 euro equal to about 200 rupees. MasterCard and Visa credit and debit cards are widely accepted in tourist areas.

The Tourist Board calls for caution when paying by credit card due to potential fraud. It is recommended to always have cash while traveling, especially in rural areas.

Social conventions

La handshake it is the normal way of greeting in Sri Lanka. It is customary offer some tea during the visit and it is considered rude to refuse.

THEinformal dress Western is suitable for almost any occasion, except when visiting Buddhist temples, where inconspicuous clothing should be worn, with the legs and upper arms covered.

Visitors should be decently dressed when visiting visit to any place of worship, and they must not wear shoes and hats.

Language

The main languages ​​spoken are Sinhala and Tamil. English is spoken by about 10% of the population, however in tourist areas English is widely spoken. We must not forget that this country is a former British colony and still many English traces can still be seen such as old telephone boxes, post offices and magnificent golf courses.

Weather

The island certainly is a perfect holiday destination all year round, as there is always a region of the country that enjoys good weather at any time of the year. However, due to the geographical position, Sri Lanka has two monsoons which decide the climate of the country.

One is the Monsone di northeast which lasts approximately from November to April, and is caused by the north-east trade winds. It mainly invests the eastern coast, saving the western one, sheltered by the reliefs present in the interior of the country.

From mid-May to October Sri Lanka is under the influence of southwest monsoon, of the southeastern trade winds blowing in the southern hemisphere. In this period, however, the rains hit the western area more.

The northernmost part, the area around Jaffna, is the area that sees less rain during the year. In general, the mountainous areas of Sri Lanka are cooler with an annual average around 16-20 ° C, while the coastal areas are warmer, with average temperatures around 28-32 ° C.

Il best time to go to Sri Lanka goes from December to March, especially for visiting the west, south and mountainous areas of the island. The recommended season for the east coast, on the other hand, is from April to September.

Il sea that surrounds the island remains quite warm all year round, with an average temperature of about 27 ° C, so at any time of the year you can enjoy long and pleasant baths in the sea. The climate along the coasts it is made more comfortable by the cool sea breezes.

Health

Public hospitals and dispensaries offer free treatment, while 24-hour treatment is available at the Colombo National Hospital offers 24-hour emergency room. However, the quality of health care varies widely across the country and in more rural areas it can be quite rudimentary by Western standards.

It is recommended to take out comprehensive travel insurance before you leave, an insurance policy that provides for coverage of medical expenses and any medical air repatriation (or transfer to another country) of the patient.

To call an ambulance in an emergency, call 110. We recommend that you obtain medicines for common diseases such as fever, headache, intestinal problems, ...

Food and beverages

All water must be considered as potentially contaminated. The water used for drinking or brushing your teeth should first be boiled or sterilized, then it is recommended to always use bottled water available in shops and hotels.

Raw milk should be boiled and if possible it is recommended to use powdered or canned milk. Avoid dairy products made with unboiled milk.

Beware of eating salads, the vegetables must be cooked and the fruit peeled, and everything must be washed with sterilized water. The street food in Sri Lanka it is found everywhere, but it is advisable to eat well-cooked meat and fish wisely.

Prohibited Imports

Pornographic material.

Forbidden exports

The export of wild animals and their parts, but also of corals, shells and protected marine products is always prohibited. Over 450 plant species can only be exported with a license. The export of antiques over 50 years old from the country is also prohibited.