Sri Lanka at a Glance
Finding India too chaotic or Nepal a bit rural as a working-traveler destination? Perhaps you’ll appreciate the middle-ground of Sri Lanka.
The Internet is no longer an esoteric technology on this island nation of nearly twenty million (though broadband is still limited to only the largest of cities such as Kandy, Negombo and in and around the capitol of Colombo), thus affording working nomads to spend mornings and afternoons traipsing through former Ceylon’s numerous UNESCO World Heritage Sites and amazing national parks, while leaving the island’s quiet evenings for a bit of bill-paying work.
Warning: there is a bit of a civil war going on in the country at the moment, but it has (as for the past dozen years) been limited primarily to the north-east while visitors have been left alone by the fighting forces. Click here for more insight on Sri Lanka including security concerns.
How This Destination Rated
The Ratings
Basic Facts about Sri Lanka
- Language: Sinhala, Tamil and English (as the primary common language)
- Government: Democracy (although the rebel insurgents might not agree).
- Population: 20 million (2.2 million in Colombo District).
- Climate: Termed tropical monsoonal with marked seasonal rhythm of rainfall.
- Geography: 65,525 square kilometers.
- Neighboring Countries: India(but, remember, Sri Lanka is an island). See map.
- Money: The Rupee (click here to convert your currency).
- Mobile Phone Frequencies: GSM 900/1800.
- Electricity: 230v (50 cycles) See plug type here.
- Time Zone: GMT/UTC +5.30 hours (Current time.)
- Country Code: 94
To Dial Out of Sri Lanka: 00.
General Travel Information on Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka Visas and Visitation Limits:
Visa on Arrival: Bona fide tourists from the countries listed in Schedule 'A' are permitted entry upon arrival in Sri Lanka for 30 days stay. No further extension beyond 30 days is granted until further notice.
For complete information on Sri Lanka visas, visit www.immigration.gov.lk/html/visa/info.html.
Getting Around:
Train: Sri Lanka has an antiquated (though characterful)
railway system. If you can't score a first class ticket, take the bus.
Tickets must be purchased at the station only. Bus: Sri
Lanka has many private and public long-distance bus lines, and though they
are not very modern or comfortable, they are cheap and plentiful. Local
travel agents will handle your arrangements. Planes: STA
Travel has
some good bargains.
Air travel into Sri Lanka is quite reasonable, especially from India
and Thailand. Sri Lanka's national airline is SriLankan
Airlines. Thai
Airways is a good option if available where you're at.
Where to Stay:
Sri Lanka makes it very easy for travelers with some very good bargains. Beach-front accommodations and other great viewpoints can be had for as low as $10 (US) per night. For NuNomad Guidelines on how to choose your nest, visit the NuNomad Blog.
Travel Insurance:
Don’t let your Asia adventure be spoiled. Get Travel Insurance. See our article Coverage Comparison of Travel Insurance.
Mailing in Sri Lanka:
Stamps may be purchased at the post office or finer hotels. newsstands. Postal rates and office locations can be found at Sri Lanka Post.
NuNo Essential Information
- WiFi Hotspots: No active list is currently available.
- Mobile Phone Providers/SIM Cards: Dialog, Tigo (formerly Celltel). Both services offer GPRS
- Internet Access: Internet access, though patchy and limited mostly to dial-up service, is now a part of Sri Lankan life and available in virtually all of the traveler destinations. Broadband is limited to the largest of cities such as Kandy, Negombo and in and around the capitol of Colombo. WiFi is available in larger hotels. Cyber cafes are quite popular. You can also purchase a pre-paid Internet access dial-up card (SLTNet) at mobile phone and tech shops for use with a landline phone. (Many guest houses and hotels will provide you with landline access.)
- Internet Access via Mobile Phone: See NuNo Geek for GPRS info, or the Geekzone.com's GPRS article, or Ross Barkman’s GPRS info page.
Internet and Telephone Communication
International Cell Phones: While in Sri Lanka the most economical way to place a call is to do so with your unlocked international cell phone, using a Sri Lanka SIM card (Telestial provides such cards).
If already in Sri Lanka, try the Dialog or Tigo SIM card. These mobile phone service providers have GPRS making it possible (perhaps) for you to access the Internet (via Bluetooth to computer) on your mobile phone. Prepaid dial-up cards are widely available in phone shops.
- For more information on International Cell Phone basics, read our article on Cell Phone Basics.
- For more information on the various methods of connecting to the Internet, visit our Connecting to WWW page.
- For more information on Connectivity issues, visit our Forum.
International Calling If you don’t have a Skype account yet, get one. You can use “telephony” service with any hi-speed Internet connection, which most Internet Cafés will have. Otherwise, you’ll have to use land-line systems. If you’re staying at a location where you want to use a land line, it may be most economical to purchase an international calling card. These can be purchased at many common locations throughout the country.
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