Colombo Travel Tips

Banks: 09:00 to 15:00, Monday to Friday
Government Offices: 08:00 to 17:00, Monday to Friday
Department Stores and Shops: 09:00 to 19:00, Monday to Friday; 09:00 to 15:00, Saturdays
Business Offices: 08:30 to 16:30, Monday to Friday; some open to 13:00 On Saturdays

There are regions that are considered dangerous for tourists to visit in Sri Lanka, including parts of the north and east of the island that are heavily mined and unsafe for travel. It’s a good idea to check in advance of travel for advisories, particularly in respect of any separatist activity. A Sri Lankan embassy or consulate will be able to provide you with detailed information. Colombo itself is generally safe for tourists, although there have been incidents of bombings in the recent past.

In areas frequented by tourists, the only real problems that arise are related to pickpockets and purse-snatchers. Women travelling alone here, as in other parts of Asia, often attract unwanted attention. Caution is advised, and it’s best to avoid walking in any deserted or poorly lighted areas. All travellers should keep valuables in a secure place, or out of sight. Caution when crossing busy roads is also advised.

Electricity: 230-240 volts, 50Hz. Plugs in use have three round pins arranged in a triangular formation.

If you are arriving from an area where either yellow fever or cholera is prevalent, Sri Lankan authorities will require that you have the appropriate vaccination certificate. Otherwise, no vaccinations are mandatory. Travel insurance to cover medical treatment is strongly advised, as are precautions against dehydration, food poisoning and malaria.

Being careful about water and food consumption is important while in the country. It’s essential to drink enough water to prevent dehydration and that the water is safe to drink. Only purified or bottled water should be considered safe to drink. Meat and fish should be thoroughly cooked, and fruits and vegetables should be peeled or cooked before eating.

Medical facilities in Colombo are among the best in the country, and most are well-equipped and staffed. The main public hospital is Colombo General Hospital, and there are also several private facilities such as Dundans and Nawaloka hospitals. Fees at private facilities are almost always higher.

Colombo General Hospital: +94 11 691 111
Emergency services: +94 11 422 222

The official languages of Sri Lanka are Sinhala and Tamil. Approximately 80 per cent of the population speaks Sinhala and 18 per cent speaks Tamil. English is widely understood and spoken at most business offices, hotels, restaurants, tour operations and shops catering to tourists.

The Sri Lankan unit of currency is the rupee (Rs): one rupee is divided into 100 cents. Banknotes are found in circulation in denominations of Rs1,000, 500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 2. Coins are issued in denominations of Rs 10, 5, 2 and 1; and 50, 25, 10, 5, 2, and 1 cent.

Major foreign currencies and traveller’s cheques can be exchanged for Sri Lankan rupees at the airport currency exchanges and at some banks in Colombo, such as the People’s Bank and the Bank of Ceylon. Most international credit cards are accepted at hotels, restaurants and shops in Sri Lanka. At a number of Bank of Ceylon ATMs in Colombo, credit cards can be used to withdraw cash.

If you are bringing camera or video equipment, gems or other valuable jewellery into the country, you should declare these items on arrival. You should not attempt to bring in goods for other persons, anything in commercial quantities or restricted or prohibited goods. Goods in the restricted or prohibited category include explosives, firearms and dangerous weapons; antique statues, national treasures and old books; animals, birds and reptiles; coconut, rubber or tea plants; and narcotics. On departing Sri Lanka, you are required to take with you all items of value declared on arrival. Duty-free allowances include 1.5 litres of spirits and 2 litres of wine; perfume for personal use and a number of small gifts.

Typical greetings used in Sri Lanka depend on a person’s ethnicity. Sinhalese normally greet someone with the word ‘ayubowan’, meaning ‘may you be blessed with long life’, whereas a Tamil would likely say ‘vanakkam’, a term having the same meaning. In informal greetings among friends, you’ll hear ‘kuhomadu’, the equivalent of ‘how do you do?’ Older Sri Lankans normally clasp their hands together as if in prayer, nod their head in greeting and say ‘namaste’. The younger generation is more likely to shake hands.

You’ll notice that many women avoid physical contact with men outside their immediately family. It’s advisable to wait and see if a woman extends her hand in greeting first. Proper form of address is a title followed by the person’s surname.

Gifts are generally given on occasions such as birthdays and religious holidays. The gifts are seldom extravagant, but rather a symbolic gesture. There are gifts that should not be given for ethnic or religious reasons, and this can be complicated in a country as diverse as Sri Lanka. It’s recommended that you avoid giving flowers, as they are generally associated with death and mourning. Alcohol may be appropriate in some situations, but it’s good to check in advance if alcohol is forbidden by the recipient’s religion. Anything pig-related should not be given to Muslims; and meat products should not be given to Hindus, unless the products are officially ‘halal.’ Giving and receiving gifts with two hands is accepted practice. Gifts are typically not opened when received and should always be reciprocated.

Dining Etiquette
Sri Lankans enjoy inviting friends to dine with them. If you happen to be invited, it’s recommended that you eat a small amount in advance as it may be a few hours after your arrival before you actually eat. Your host will show you where you should be seated and you’ll be asked if you want to wash your hands before eating (it’s expected that you will).

Utensils aren’t always used: many people eat using the fingers of their right hand (not left) to pick up small pieces of bread with which to scoop up food. The fingers are also used to make small rice balls, which then can be used in a similar manner. Leaving a small portion of food on your plate serves as a signal that you’ve finished eating. As socialising extends past the end of the meal, it is polite to stay for a while after eating.

Visitors from most all countries are issued tourist visas on arrival, permitting entry for 30 days. Requests for extensions of tourist visas are processed by the Department of Immigration and Emigration in Colombo. For additional information on applying for an extension, the immigration service can be reached by telephone at: +94 11 259 7511.

Colombo’s main tourist information office is the Sri Lanka Tourist Board, located in the centre at Stuart place (phone: +94 11 437 059). In addition, there is a Tourist Police Office in the Fort area, near the main Post Office. The Tourist Police provide not only normal police assistance, but also help with general information about the area (phone: +94 11 26941). There’s also a Railway Tourist Office located at Fort Station, where visitors can find information about rail services and schedules, and general tourist information (phone: +94 11 435 838).