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TRAVELLERS' TIPS | ANNUAL EVENTS | USEFUL CONTACTS
Sri Lanka is a famous tourist destination. Its beaches, cultural sites, the beauty of its hill country, colorful festivals with dances, ruins
of ancient civilizations, huge man-made tanks and fauna and flora are the main attractions. Over five hundred thousand tourists visit Sri Lanka
annually. They are mainly from European countries and Japan.
There are various colorful festivals in various parts of the island through out the year. The most colorful event is the Kandy Perahera which
attracts many thousands of tourists. And the cultural values are unique. The majority of its population are Buddhists. Hindu and Muslim
communities together with a Christian population, are also significant. Tourists are welcomed by all communities are treated with true
hospitality.
Monsoons
Visitors must be aware of climate conditions of the island. There are two rainy seasons. The South West monsoon brings rain to the South Western
part of the country from May to August (Colombo, Galle, Matara, Kegalle, Kandy, Negombo); these areas are usually dry during December to March.
The North Eastern monsoon brings rain to the dry zone during October to January (Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Batticaloa, Trincomalee, Jaffna,
Vavuniya) There are also inter-monsoonal rains in various parts of the island.
Tourist Seasons
December to March is the best season to visit the west and south coasts and the hill country. April to September is the best season to visit the
dry zone where ancient cities are located. And also to visit beaches on the east coast, many tourists visit in this season and almost all the hotels
are full.
Information for Overseas Visitors
Visitors can contact Ceylon Tourist Board Colombo head office. Tel:+94 11 243 7571, E-mail:Tourinfo@sri.lanka.net, Web site: www.srilankatourism.org.
There are also Ceylon Tourist Board offices in Australia, France, Germany, Japan, UK and USA.
Exchange Rates
(Schedule of exchange rates changes every week, hence the latest should be used in Customs matters).
The latest exchange rates could be obtained at www.immigration.gov.lk
Entry visas to Sri Lanka
You can download visa application forms from the web site of Department of Immigration and Emigration Sri Lanka,
www.immigration.gov.lk.
Contact the Sri Lankan High Commission or consulate in your country. Usually a thirty days tourist visa could be
obtained without any problem. Please browse www.immigration.gov.lk for the latest updates of visa regulations.
While you are in Sri Lanka, if you need to extend your stay you have to contact the department of immigration at
No.23, Station Road, Bambalapitiya, Colombo 4. Station Road is next to the Majestic City shopping Complex.
Tel:+94112503629
Multiple Entry / Transit / Visit visa applications should be made to the nearest Sri Lanka Mission.
1. In the absence of such a mission arrangements could be made through the Dept. of Immigration
and Emigration in Sri Lanka, to enter and stay in the country.
2. Applications for the extension of above Visas should be made to the Dept. of Immigration and
Emigration.
More Information
Deputy Controller [Visa]
Department of Immigration and Emigration
# 23 Station Road, Colombo 4. Sri Lanka.
Phone: 94-11-2597511
Fax: 94-11-2591809
E-Mail: dcvisa@sltnet.lk
Eligibility
Being a foreign national who desires to enter Sri Lanka, who holds a return air ticket and sufficient
funds [currency / travelers cheques / credit card] for maintenance.
Nationals of countries not listed here should obtain prior Visit Visas whatever the purpose of visit is.
Albania, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bhutan,
Bosnia-Herzegovina, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech, Republic, Denmark,
Doha Qatar, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, India,
Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgystan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, Macedonia, Maldives, Malaysia, Moldova, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nepal, Norway,
Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Serbia-
Montenegro, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkey, Turkmenistan, U.A.E., U.K., Ukraine, U.S.A.,
Uzbekistan, Vietnam (Diplomatic and Official Passport only).
U s e f u l
c o n t a c t s a n d
i n f o r m a t i o n i n
S r i L a n k a
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Sri Lankan Air Lines
Level 19-22 East Tower, WTC,
Echelon Square, Colombo 1. www.srilankan.lk
Tel: Reservations, Ticket Office,
Flight Information - 01 973 35555
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Colombo International Airport
Katunayake.
Tel.: 225 2861, 225 5555
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Tourist Information (Airport)
Tel.: 225 2411
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Colombo International Airport
Katunayake.
Tel.: 225 2861, 225 5555
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Automobile Association of Ceylon
40, Sir Mohamed Marcan Marker Maw.,
Galle Face, Colombo 3. Tel. 2421528 - 9
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Buddhist Information Centre
135, Anagarika Dharmapala Mawatha,
Colombo 7. Tel. 232 6127, 232 0267 Ext: 239
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Telephone Directory
Inquiries: Tel.: 161
International Call Bookings: Tel.: 100
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Ministry of Cultural Affairs
Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7.
Tel : 258 7912, 250 0733
Cultuaral Triangle Office (for site entry tickets)
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Railway Tourist Office.
Fort Railway Station, Colombo 1.
Tel : 243 5838, 244 0048
Railway Department Website - www.scienceworld.lk/railway
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Sri Lanka Philatelic Bureau
4th Floor, Ceylinco House,
Janadhipathi Mawatha, Colombo 1.
Tel : 232 6163, 232 6177, 232 5588
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Ceylon Tourist Board
Head Office
80, Galle Road, Colombo 3.
Tel : 243 7055/ 243 7059/ 243 7060
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Sri Lanka Customs
Times Building Bristol Street Colombo 1.
Tel : 232 1141 / 232 0251
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General Hospital
Regent Street, Colombo 8.
(Round-the-clock Accident Service and Out Patients Treatment)
Tel : 269 1111 / 269 3184
Ambulance : Tel . 232 2222
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General Post Office
Janadhipathi Mawatha,
Colombo 1. Tel.: 232 6203
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The National Gem and Jewellery Authority
25, Galle Face Terrace, Colombo 3, Tel : 232 5364, 232 9295
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Dept. of Immigration & Emigration
Tower Building,
Station Road, Colombo 4. Tel.: 250 3629, 250 3631
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Animal Quarantine Office
41, Morgan Road, Colombo 2.
Tel. 244 8683
aqobia@slt.lk melanee@slt.lk www.gov.lk/estate/animal
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Plant Quarantine
Deputy Director, National Plant Quarantine,
Sri Lanka Canada Friendship Road, Katunayaka.
Tel. 225 2028 / 225 2527 scppc@sltnet.lk
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List of Sri Lankan Missions Overseas
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Honorary Consults
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Embassies and Diplomatic Missions
Australia, High Commission of,
3, Cambridge Place, Col. 07.
Tel.: 269 8767-9
Fax: 268 6453
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Bangladesh, High Commission of,
47, Sir Ernest de Silva Maw., (Flower Rd.) Col. 07.
Tel.: 268 1310-2
Fax: 268 1309
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Canada, High Commission of,
6, Gregory's Rd., Col. 07.
Tel.: 269 5841, 269 5845
Fax: 268 7049
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China, Embassy of the People's Republic of,
381A, Bauddhaloka Maw., Col. 07.
Tel.: 469 4491-5
Fax: 269 3799
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Cuba, Embassy of the Republic of,
22/2, Marcus Fernando Maw., Col. 07.
Tel.: 269 8438
Fax: 266 9380
e-mail: embacub@eol.lk
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Egypt, Embassy of the Arab Republic of,
39, Dickman's Rd., Col. 05.
Tel.: 558 3621, 550 8752
Fax: 258 5292
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France, Embassy of,
89, Rosmead Place, Col. 07.
Tel.: 269 8815, 269 9750-2
Fax: 269 9039, 267 7374
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Germany, Embassy of,
40, Alfred House Avenue, Col. 03.
Tel.: 258 0431-4
Fax: 258 0440
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India, High Commission of,
36-38, Galle Rd., Col. 03.
Tel.: 242 1605, 242 2788-9
Fax: 244 6403
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Indonesia, Embassy of the Republic of,
400/50, Sarana Rd., Col. 07.
Tel.: 264 4334, 268 5042
Fax: 267 8668
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Iran, Embassy of the Islamic Republic of,
17, Bullers Lane, Col. 07.
Tel.: 250 1137, 258 0636
Fax: 250 2691
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Iraq, Embassy of the Republic of,
19, Barnes Place, Col. 07.
Tel.: 269 8733
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Italy, Embassy of,
55, Jawatta Rd., Col. 05.
Tel.: 258 8388, 250 8418
Fax: 471 2272
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Japan, Embassy of,
20, Gregory's Rd., Col. 07.
Tel.: 269 3831-3
Fax: 269 8629
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Korea, Embassy of the Republic of,
98, Dharmapala Maw., Col. 07.
Tel.: 299 036-8
Fax: 269 6699
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Kuwait, Embassy of the State of,
14, Jawatta Rd., Col. 05.
Tel.: 259 7958-60
Fax: 259 7954
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Libya, People's Bureau of the Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya,
120, Horton Place, Col. 07.
Tel.: 269 4874, 269 1549
Fax: 553 3881
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Malaysia, High Commission of,
33, Bagatale Road, Col. 03.
Tel.: 255 4681-3
Fax: 255 4684
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Maldives, High Commission of the Republic of,
23, Kaviratne Place, Pamankade, Col. 06.
Tel.: 258 6762
Fax: 258 1200
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Myanmar, Embassy of the Union of,
4A, Rosmed Place, Col. 07.
Tel.: 268 1197, 267 2197
Fax: 268 1196
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Nepal, Royal Embassy of,
153, Kynsey Rd., Col. 07.
Tel.: 268 9656/7
Fax: 268 9655
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Netherlands, Royal Embassy of the,
25, Torrington Avenue, Col. 07.
Tel.: 259 6914
Fax: 250 2855
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Norway, Royal Embassy of,
34, Ward Place, Col. 07.
Tel.: 246 9609, 246 9611-3
Fax: 269 5009
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Pakistan, High Commission of the Islamic Republic of,
211, De Saram Place, Col. 10.
Tel.: 269 6301-2
Fax: 269 5780
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Palestine, Embassy of the State of,
110/10, Wijerama Maw., Col. 07.
Tel.: 269 5991
Fax: 269 5992
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Russian Federation, Embassy of the,
62, Sir Ernest de Silva Maw., (Flower Rd), Col. 07.
Tel.: 257 3555, 257 4959
Fax: 257 4957
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Saudi Arabia, Embassy of the Kingdom of,
39, Sir Ernest de Silva Maw., (Flower Rd), Col. 07.
Tel.: 268 2087-9
Fax: 268 2088
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Sweden, Embassy of,
49, Bullers Lane, Col. 07.
Tel.: 479 5400 Fax: 479 5450
e-mail: sweden@panlanka.lk
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Switzerland, Embassy of,
63, Gregory's Rd., Col. 07.
Tel.: 269 5117, 269 5148
Fax: 269 5176
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Thailand, Royal Embassy of,
9th Floor, Green Lanka Bldg., 46/46, Navana Maw. Col. 02.
Tel.: 230 2500-3
Fax.: 230 4511-2
e-mail: thaicmb@sltnet.lk
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United Kingdom, High Commission of the,
190, Galle Rd., Col. 03.
Tel.: 243 7336 Fax: 243 0308
e-mail: bhc@eureka.lk
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United Nations (UN)
202, 204, Bauddhaloka Maw., Col. 07.
Tel.: 258 0691-7
Fax: 258 1116
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United States of America, Embassy of the,
210, Galle Rd., Col. 03.
Tel.: 244 8007
Fax: 243 7345
e-mail: clocolombo@state.gov
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Sri Lanka Customs
Passengers & Baggage
Passengers are categorized into several groups for the ease of facilitation and control. There are
mainly two types of passengers, such as local passport holders and foreign passport holders. These
types can be further subdivided as inward, outward or transit passengers, etc. Depending on the category,
different rules and regulations may be applicable.
However for definitive rules and regulations applicable for the passengers and passengers' baggage you
should visit the page laws & regulations.
Residents - Sri Lanka Passport Holders Adults & Juniors
Residents - Foreign Passport Holders with Resident Visa
Non Residents - Foreign Passport Holders
Dual Citizens - Sri Lanka Passport Holders Adults & Juniors
Diplomatic Passport Holders (Foreign)
Officials of the Sri Lankan Missions Overseas
Transit Passengers
Airline and Ship's Crew
Prohibitions & Restrictions
Permissible Quantities of Articles and Goods in Passengers' Baggage
When you are arriving or departing you have to declare the items if you are exceeding whatever is allowed to be brought in or taken out.
For information browse to www.customs.gov.lk
Inward - Adults ( Over 18 years )
The following items carried by/on person or in the hand luggage accompanying him are exempted from Customs Duty:
o 2.5 liters of alcoholic liquor
o 2 liters of Wine
o 0.25 liters of perfumed spirits
o 50 cigars whether in open or unopened boxes
o 200 cigarettes whether in open or unopened boxes
o 200 beedi whether in open or unopened boxes
o 200g tobacco
o 100g snuff
Non Residents - Foreign Passport Holders
Tourists are considered under this category of passengers.
The following items carried by/on person or in the hand luggage accompanying him are exempted from Customs Duty:
o 200 cigarettes or 250 g of tobacco (both less than 250g)
o Wine 2 bottles
o Spirits 1.5L
o Toilet water 0.25L
o Small quantity of perfume.
o Souvenirs, value not exceeding US$250
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