All visitors to Sri Lanka must possess a passport that is valid for at least 3 months beyond the length of their proposed stay. Certain nationalities are entitled to a free visa on arrival at Colombo airport, while other visa applications need to be made to a Sri Lankan Consulate or Embassy abroad - allow 4 days for processing. An extension of stay can be obtained while in the country and should be applied for at the Department of Immigration and Emigration in Colombo.

The import and export of local currency is limited to Rs1000.

Visitors may take the following into Sri Lanka duty free:
Alcohol - 2 bottles of wine and 1.5litres of spirits
Tobacco - 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 340g of tobacco
Precious metals such as gold, platinum and silver must be declared on arrival.
Penalties for carrying or trafficking illegal drugs are extremely severe.

Sri Lankan time: GMT +6 hours

Sri Lankan Rupees (Rs) - Check current exchange rates. 100 cents = Rs1

Notes issued - Rs1,000, Rs500, Rs100, Rs50, Rs20, Rs10

The international dialling code for Sri Lanka is 94.

When making international telephone calls from Sri Lanka, first dial 00 + country code + area code + telephone number .

Local Telephone Codes:
Anuradhapura 025
Batticaloa 065
Colombo 01
Jaffna 021
Kandy 08
Mathara 041
Negombo 031
Polonnaruwa 027
Ratnapura 045
Trincomalee 026

230-240 V, 50 cycles AC

Tap water is not considered safe for consumption and ice cubes should be avoided. Bottled water is widely available throughout the country.

Medical facilities are not always of a good standard and it is recommended that you take out adequate health insurance covering evacuation. Cholera and malaria are both considered serious risks and all necessary precautions should be taken. Consider inoculations against typhoid, polio, hepatitis A, Japanese encephalitis and take advice regarding anti-malarials. It is always best to check the current situation and any vaccination requirements with a doctor when planning your trip.