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 on Saturdays
Business Offices: 08:30 to 16:30, Monday to Friday; some open on Saturdays

The biggest caution for visitors to Negombo has to do with insects. Mosquitoes are always present here and insect repellent is a necessity. From around 16:00 until 22:00, you’ll need a good insect repellent if you are outside.

Negombo has been largely untouched by separatist violence, and the only real crime that tourists might encounter relates to pick-pocketing and other forms of petty theft. Most hotels and resorts provide safes for the protection of your important documents, cash and jewellery. It’s a good idea to lock these items away rather than leaving them in a suitcase or carrying them with you when you’re on the beach or sightseeing.

You’re also advised that street drains in Negombo are open, and you should be careful when walking around after dark. Carrying a torch with you at night is a good idea.

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

Visitors who have recently spent time in a country where yellow fever is prevalent must be vaccinated against the disease before arrival in Sri Lanka. No other vaccinations are formally required. Travel insurance is recommended, as you will be required to pay for any medical care that you receive on the spot. Precautions should be taken against malaria, food poisoning and dehydration.

Being cautious regarding both water and food is important in Negombo, as it is elsewhere in Sri Lanka. While you need to drink sufficient water to prevent dehydration, care should be exercised to drink only purified or bottled water. Meat, fish, fruit and vegetables should be eaten only after they have been properly cooked; or in the case of fruit, thoroughly peeled if eaten fresh.

Negombo Hospital: +94 31 222 2261
Emergency services: 119

Sinhalese and Tamil are both official languages of Sri Lanka. Around 80 per cent of the country’s population speak Sinhalese and nearly 20 per cent speak Tamil. English is widely understood in Negombo, and is spoken by most people in the tourist industry including hotel and restaurant staff, tour guides and shop clerks.

Sri Lanka’s currency unit is the rupee (Rs): one rupee is equal to 100 cents. You’ll come across banknotes in denominations of Rs1,000, 500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 2. Coins in circulation are in denominations of Rs10, 5, 2 and 1; and 50, 25, 10, 5, 2, and 1 cent.

Currency exchange counters at Colombo’s International Airport and large banks in Colombo city will exchange travellers’ cheques and major foreign currencies for Sri Lankan rupees. In Negombo, you’ll be able to use most credit cards at hotels, restaurants and shops that cater to tourists. At the Bank of Ceylon and at ATMs in Colombo you can also withdraw cash using a credit card.

Goods that may be brought into Sri Lanka duty-free include 1.5 litres of spirits, 2 litres of wine, a small amount of perfume for personal use and a reasonable number of gifts. If you bring in expensive cameras or computer equipment, gems, valuable jewellery or watches, it is important to declare them on arrival and to make sure that you have the same items with you when departing the country.

Goods that are restricted or prohibited from being brought into Sri Lanka include explosives, firearms and other dangerous weapons; narcotics; antiques and national treasures; animals, birds and reptiles; and tea, rubber and coconut plants.

Words of greeting depend on ethnicity: the Sinhalese typically greet people by saying ‘ayubowan’, which means ‘may you be blessed with long life’, while the Tamil greet you saying ‘vanakkam’, which has a similar meaning. Older persons often clasp their hands together while nodding their head and say ‘namaste’. Young Sri Lankans generally shake hands.

You’ll find that women often avoid physical contact with men who are not relatives and that they may not be comfortable with shaking hands. It’s always best to see if a woman offers her hand in greeting first.

People usually give gifts on birthdays and religious holidays, a symbolic gesture rather than an expensive offering. Some items that should not be given as gifts for religious or ethnic reasons include: flowers associated with death; alcohol forbidden by some religions; pig-related products which are not appropriate for Muslims; and meat products which may offend Hindus. Two hands are used in the giving and receiving of gifts, and gifts are not typically opened at the time they are received.

Dining Etiquette
Sri Lankans are sociable and enjoy dining with friends. If you’re invited to someone’s home for a meal, it’s a good idea to have a least a little food to eat before arriving, as it may be a few hours before you actually eat. You will probably be asked if you’d like to wash your hands before the meal, and it’s appropriate to do so. Your host will show you where you should sit at the table.

Many Sri Lankans eat using their fingers (right hand only) by picking up a small piece of bread or ball or rice which is then used to scoop up food. When you have finished eating, it is customary to leave a small amount of food on your plate as a signal that you’ve had enough to eat. Much socialising occurs after a meal has finished, so you should be prepared to stay on after the meal.

Visas are required by nationals of most countries, and are available on arrival at Colombo’s international airport. An exception to this is nationals of Malta, who must obtain a visa in advance. For those eligible for a tourist visa on arrival, there is no fee charged and the length of stay permitted is 30 days. Visas can be extended by applying at the Department of Immigration and Emigration in Colombo.

A tourist information centre at Colombo’s international airport operates round the clock to provide assistance and information to arriving tourists. In addition, the Negombo Tourist Information Centre offers maps, brochures and information on area attractions and accommodation. It’s located at 12/6, Lewis place in Negombo, and is open daily from 09:00 to 17:15.