Useful Information

Currency: Sri Lankan rupee (LKR). The best exchange rate with euros or US dollars, which we recommend to include in the travelling cash. Major shops accept Visa and MasterCard. ATMs accepting foreign-issued cards are available in Colombo and Kandy.

Vaccination: It is adequate for an ordinary traveller visiting districts of Colombo, Galle and Hikkaduwa to have valid tetanus and polio vaccination, and either gammaglobuline or Hepatitis A vaccination. Malaria is not known to appear in Hikkaduwa coastal area but epidemics exist inland so medication against malaria is recommended. For travellers staying for a longer period, especially when visiting rural areas or spending much time outdoors, vaccination against Japanese encephalitis is recommended.

Languages: Two main languages spoken in Sri Lanka are Sinhala and Tamil, but English is commonly spoken, as well.

Traffic: Traffic is left-sided and notoriously slow in Colombo and surrounds. The condition of roads can be poor. If you wish to move independently in the island, it is possible to rent a bicycle or a motorbike, or even a car, with or without a driver. Travelling on a bus or train is cheap and offers an excellent way to get into the Sri Lankan way of life.

Communication: Mobile telephone coverage is available throughout the country as part of roaming agreements with some international mobile phone companies, however the coverage can be sporadic. Internet coverage in Sri Lanka is far from extensive. Although internet cafes are available in most major towns and resorts, the services can be extremely slow, with high-speed internet almost non-existent. In Hikkaduwa and in major cities, sending and receiving SMS messages should be no problem.