Immigration Basics
- A valid passport
- Sufficient funds for maintenance
- A return air ticket or foreign exchange to purchase a return ticket
Visa on Arrival
Nationals of the following countries coming into Sri Lanka as bona-fide tourists do not require entry visas for a period of thirty days (visa on arrival).
01. Albania |
21. Estonia |
41. Luxembourg |
61. Slovakia |
02. Armenia |
22. Finland |
42. Macedonia |
62. Slovenia |
03. Australia |
23. France |
43. Maldives |
63. South Africa |
04. Austria |
24. Georgia |
44. Malaysia |
64. South Korea |
05. Azerbaijan |
25. Germany |
45. Moldova |
65. Spain |
06. Bahrain |
26. Greece |
46. Netherlands |
66. Sweden |
07. Bangladesh |
27. Hong Kong |
47. New Zealand |
67. Switzerland |
08. Belarus |
28. Hungary |
48. Nepal |
68. Taiwan |
09. Belgium |
29. India |
49. Norway |
69. Tajikistan |
10. Bhutan |
30. Indonesia |
50. Oman |
70. Thailand |
11. Bosnia Herzegovina |
31. Iran |
51. Pakistan |
71. Turkey |
12. Brunei |
32. Ireland |
52. Philippines |
72. Turkmenistan |
13. Bulgaria |
33. Israel |
53. Poland |
73. U.A.E. |
14. Canada |
34. Italy |
54. Portugal |
74. U.K. |
15. China |
35. Japan |
55. Romania |
75. Ukraine |
16. Croatia |
36. Kazakhstan |
56. Russian Federation |
76. U.S.A. |
17. Cyprus |
37. Kyrgyzstan |
57. Saudi Arabia |
77. Uzbekistan |
18. Czech, Republic |
38. Kuwait |
58. Serbia-Montenegro |
78. Vietnam * |
19. Denmark |
39. Latvia |
59. Seychelles |
|
20. Doha Qatar |
40. Lithuania |
60. Singapore |
|
Nationals of countries not listed above, require visas for entry to Sri Lanka.
Currency Exchange
Foreign currency rates of change are announced in the press daily. Money can be exchanged at banks, hotels and money changers.
Sri Lankan Currency
The Sri Lankan rupee is used in the country. One rupee is made up of 100 cents.
Banking hours
Normal banking hours are between 0900 hrs and 1500 hrs from Monday to Friday. Banks are generally closed during the weekends and on public holidays. However, some private banks operate on some holidays.
Credit Cards
Reputed Credit Cards are widely accepted by tourist establishments and restaurants, including Visa, Master and Amex.
Shopping
The world's finest tea and spices are grown here. Precious stones, created batiks, hand carved silver trays, ornaments; gems and Jewellery are the island’s pride available at reasonable prices. Designer Label clothing are manufactured in Sri Lanka and are re-exported to USA and Europe. Shopping in Sri Lanka is value for money.
Time
06 hours ahead of GMT.
Water
It is recommended to drink filtered water, mineral water and aerated water, which are available at all sales outlets.
KANDY
Temperature: 23 °C – 31 °C
Kandy is the 2nd largest city, 115 kilometers inland from Colombo, climatically a world away due to its 500-meter altitude. The hill capital of Kandy was the last stronghold of the ancient Sinhala Kings against the British Empire. The focus of Kandy is its lake with the Temple of the Tooth “Dalada Maligawa”. The surrounding hills are perched looking down on the town.
The city of Kandy, which is also known as 'Senkadagala', features the most sacred of all Buddhist shrines - the Temple of the Tooth or the 'Dalada Maligawa'.
