Southern Asia · UN member
Sri Lanka: Travel Guide & Requirements
Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka · ශ්රී ලංකා ප්රජාතාන්ත්රික සමාජවාදී ජනරජය · இலங்கை சனநாயக சோசலிசக் குடியரசு
Sri Lanka is a country in Southern Asia with its capital in Colombo. It has a population of 21.8 million (#62 in the world) and covers 65,610 km². The official languages are Sinhala and Tamil. The currency is the Sri Lankan rupee (LKR, Rs රු).
Where is Sri Lanka? Map of Sri Lanka
Southern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of India.
- Region
- Southern Asia
- Coordinates
- 7° N, 81° E
- Neighbours
- none (no land borders)
- Coastline
- 1,340 km
- Sri Lanka
- Capital
- Largest cities
Map of Sri Lanka showing Colombo (capital) and the largest cities: Jaffna, Kandy, Trincomalee, Kalmunai, Galle, Dambulla, Anuradhapura and Vavuniya.
Travel requirements
What you need to travel to Sri Lanka
- Passport
The ETA portal says ETA holders need a passport valid for not less than 6 months from the date of arrival.
- Visa or eTA
Depends on your passport: of 198 passports, 198 need an eTA. Check yours or see Sri Lanka entry requirements for every passport.
- Return or onward ticket
The ETA portal says all ETA holders should have a confirmed return ticket at the port of entry.
- Proof of funds
The ETA portal says all ETA holders should have sufficient funds to meet the expenses during the stay at the port of entry.
- Travel insurance
No official requirement. The UK government says emergency medical treatment outside main cities is not readily available, treatment in private hospitals can be expensive, and options for repatriation in an emergency are limited and very expensi…
- Vaccinations
WHO's Annex 1 lists Sri Lanka as requiring proof of yellow fever vaccination from travellers aged 9 months or over arriving from countries at risk of yellow fever transmission, including travellers who have transited mo…
- Customs allowance
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka's glossary describes a declaration to the Department of Customs where foreign exchange exceeds USD 15,000 or its equivalent in other foreign currencies.
- Travel advice
Some caution needed — US and UK advice.
Entry rules: TravelRequirements.info — Entry Requirements Dataset (CC BY 4.0), each rule cited to an official government source. Always confirm with the airline and the official source before you travel.
Before you go
10 things to know before you travel to Sri Lanka
- Safety: Sri Lanka is generally safe for travellers, but some caution is needed: the US State Department rates Sri Lanka Level 2 (“Exercise Increased Caution”), and the UK Foreign Office has no warnings against travel there.
- Best time to go: January to February and June to August — when daytime highs in Colombo are around 28–30°C.
- Money: the Sri Lankan rupee (LKR) — 1 US dollar is about 331.6951 LKR.
- Plugs: type D, G and M, 230 V, 50 Hz — standard 220–240 V: devices from the US or Japan (110–120 V) need a converter unless they are dual voltage (100–240 V).
- Emergency numbers: Police 119, Ambulance 110, Fire 110.
- Language: Sinhala and Tamil are official; English is also spoken.
- Driving: on the left — speed limits are 50 km/h in built-up areas and 70 km/h outside built-up areas.
- Time zone: UTC+5.5 in Colombo.
- Capital: Colombo. About 21.8 million people live in Sri Lanka.
- Outdoors: 26 national parks.
Key facts
Sri Lanka at a glance
Languages spoken: Sinhala (official) 87%, Tamil (official) 28.5%, English 23.8% (2012 est.)
Geography & history
About Sri Lanka
The first Sinhalese arrived in Sri Lanka late in the 6th century B.C., probably from northern India. Buddhism was introduced circa 250 B.C., and the first kingdoms developed at the cities of Anuradhapura (from about 200 B.C. to about A.D. 1000) and Polonnaruwa (from about A.D. 1070 to 1200). In the 14th century, a South Indian dynasty established a Tamil kingdom in northern Sri Lanka. The Portuguese controlled the coastal areas of the island in the 16th century, followed by the Dutch in the 17th century. The island was ceded to the British in 1796, became a crown colony in 1802, and was formally united under British rule by 1815. As Ceylon, it became independent in 1948; the name was change…
Read the full history
The first Sinhalese arrived in Sri Lanka late in the 6th century B.C., probably from northern India. Buddhism was introduced circa 250 B.C., and the first kingdoms developed at the cities of Anuradhapura (from about 200 B.C. to about A.D. 1000) and Polonnaruwa (from about A.D. 1070 to 1200). In the 14th century, a South Indian dynasty established a Tamil kingdom in northern Sri Lanka. The Portuguese controlled the coastal areas of the island in the 16th century, followed by the Dutch in the 17th century. The island was ceded to the British in 1796, became a crown colony in 1802, and was formally united under British rule by 1815. As Ceylon, it became independent in 1948; the name was changed to Sri Lanka in 1972. Prevailing tensions between the Sinhalese majority and Tamil separatists erupted into war in 1983. Fighting between the government and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) continued for over a quarter-century. Although Norway brokered peace negotiations that led to a cease-fire in 2002, the fighting slowly resumed and was again in full force by 2006. The government defeated the LTTE in 2009. During the post-conflict years under then-President Mahinda RAJAPAKSA, the government initiated infrastructure development projects, many of which were financed by loans from China. His regime faced allegations of human rights violations and a shrinking democratic space for civil society. In 2015, a new coalition government headed by President Maithripala SIRISENA of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and Prime Minister Ranil WICKREMESINGHE of the United National Party came to power with pledges to advance economic, political, and judicial reforms. However, implementation of these reforms was uneven. In 2019, Gotabaya RAJAPAKSA won the presidential election and appointed his brother Mahinda prime minister. Civil society raised concerns about the RAJAPAKSA administration’s commitment to pursuing justice, human rights, and accountability reforms, as well as the risks to foreign creditors that Sri Lanka faced given its ongoing economic crisis. A combination of factors including the COVID-19 pandemic; severe shortages of food, medicine, and fuel; and power outages triggered increasingly violent protests in Columbo beginning in 2022. In response, WICKREMESINGHE -- who had already served as prime minister five times -- was named to replace the prime minister, but he became president within a few months when Gotabaya RAJAPAKSA fled the country.
Location
Southern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of India
Climate
tropical monsoon; northeast monsoon (December to March); southwest monsoon (June to October)
Terrain
mostly low, flat to rolling plain; mountains in south-central interior
Highest point
Pidurutalagala 2,524 m
Natural resources
limestone, graphite, mineral sands, gems, phosphates, clay, hydropower, arable land
Natural hazards
occasional cyclones and tornadoes
National symbols
lion, water lily
Driving
Speed limits & road rules in Sri Lanka
The default speed limits in Sri Lanka are 50 km/h in built-up areas and 70 km/h outside built-up areas. The legal alcohol limit for drivers is 0.8‰. Posted signs always take priority over these defaults.
- 5050 km/hBuilt-up areasTowns and citiesWHO data (2017)
- 7070 km/hOutside built-up areasCountry roadsWHO data (2017)
- International Driving PermitRecognised: 1949 GenevaCarry the IDP together with your national licence
- Driving sideDrive on the leftOvertake on the right
- Alcohol limit0.8‰ blood alcohol (0.08% BAC)
- Seat beltsRequired by law
- Child seatsNo national child-restraint law
- Motorcycle helmetsRequired for riders
- Road deaths (2021)11.5 per 100,000 peopleClose to the world median (12.4)
Speed limits: OpenStreetMap wiki — Default speed limits (CC BY-SA 2.0) and WHO. Road-safety laws: WHO Global Health Observatory. Compare speed limits and alcohol limits by country. Defaults for cars; local signs, weather and vehicle type can lower them.
Safety
Is Sri Lanka safe to visit?
Sri Lanka is generally safe for travellers, but some caution is needed: the US State Department rates Sri Lanka Level 2 (“Exercise Increased Caution”), and the UK Foreign Office has no warnings against travel there.
US State Department
UK Foreign Office (FCDO)Latest update: Addition of information about heavy rainfall, flooding and landslides (‘Warnings and insurance’ page)
Updated 21 Sep 2026 · Full travel advice
Sources: US Department of State travel advisories (public domain) and UK FCDO foreign travel advice (contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0). Checked daily. Advice can change quickly — always read the official page before you travel.
Weather
Best time to visit Sri Lanka
The best time to visit Sri Lanka is January to February and June to August, when daytime highs in Colombo are around 28–30°C. March, September and December are also a good time to go. March is the warmest month (31°C by day), January the coldest (22°C at night), and November the wettest with about 305 mm of rain.
- Jan29°C22°C
- Feb30°C23°C
- Mar31°C24°C
- Apr30°C25°C
- May29°C26°C
- Jun28°C25°C
- Jul28°C25°C
- Aug28°C25°C
- Sep28°C25°C
- Oct28°C24°C
- Nov28°C24°C
- Dec28°C23°C
Best time Good Less ideal
Before you go
Plugs, voltage & emergency numbers in Sri Lanka
Plugs & sockets
- Type Dthree large round pins in a triangle
- Type Gthree rectangular pins in a triangle
- Type Mthree large round pins in a triangle
230 V, 50 Hz · Standard 220–240 V: devices from the US or Japan (110–120 V) need a converter unless they are dual voltage (100–240 V).
Emergency numbers
Save the local numbers before you travel — 112 or 911 may not connect here. All countries →
Sources: Wikipedia — Mains electricity by country and List of emergency telephone numbers (CC BY-SA 4.0).
National parks
26 national parks in Sri Lanka
- 8,711 km² protected
- oldest from 1937
Largest: Horowpathana National Park · Wilpattu National Park · Yala National Park
Currency · 26 October 2026
Sri Lankan rupee exchange rates today
Sri Lanka uses the Sri Lankan rupee (LKR, Rs රු). One US dollar buys 331.6951 LKR; over the last 30 days the LKR has lost 0.5% against the dollar.
What other currencies cost in LKR
Currency converter
Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0), 26 Oct 2026. Banks and exchange offices add a margin.
World rankings
Where Sri Lanka ranks
How Sri Lanka compares with the rest of the world — open any card for the full ranking.
Airports
Airports in Sri Lanka
38 airports and airfields — 3 large, 7 medium and 8 small, plus 1 heliports. 13 have scheduled passenger flights.
Borders
No land borders
Sri Lanka has no land borders with other countries. Coastline: 1,340 km.
Military
Sri Lankan armed forces
Sri Lanka ranks #71 of 145 in the Global Firepower military strength ranking, with a defence budget of $1.4 billion (2025).
People
Population & society
Religion
Largest cities: Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte (103,000), Colombo (633,000)
Economy
Economy
Main industries
processing of rubber, tea, coconuts, tobacco and other agricultural commodities; tourism; clothing and textiles; mining
Export partners
USA 22%, India 7%, Germany 7%, UK 7%, Italy 5% (2023)
Top exports
garments, tea, precious stones, used rubber tires, rubber products (2023)
Travel tools
Handy before every trip to Sri Lanka
Next public holiday
Diwali — Sunday, 8 November 2026. Then Il Full Moon Poya Day (24 Nov).
Sri Lankan passport
Ranked #174: 19 countries visa-free, 21 with visa on arrival, 3 with an eTA and 47 with an eVisa.
Sri Lankan passport photo
Exact size, head position and background for Sri Lanka's passport and visa photos — make one free with AI checks.
Calling Sri Lanka
Dial +94 before the local number. Internet domain .lk.
Climate footprint
20.8 million tonnes of CO₂ in 2024 — 0.90 t per person.
Entry requirements
Visa rules for every passport visiting Sri Lanka: visa-free stays, eVisas, visas on arrival and documents to bring.
News
Latest travel news about Sri Lanka
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Frequently asked questions about Sri Lanka
What do I need to travel to Sri Lanka?
How long must my passport be valid for Sri Lanka?
Where is Sri Lanka?
What is Sri Lanka known for?
What is the capital of Sri Lanka?
What language is spoken in Sri Lanka?
What currency does Sri Lanka use?
What is the calling code of Sri Lanka?
Does Sri Lanka have land borders?
How strong is the Sri Lankan passport?
What is the speed limit in Sri Lanka?
Is Sri Lanka safe to visit?
When is the best time to visit Sri Lanka?
What plug type does Sri Lanka use?
How many airports does Sri Lanka have?
Sources: CIA World Factbook (public domain); World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0); names, languages and currencies: mledoze/countries (ODbL); flag: flag-icons (MIT); coat of arms: Wikimedia Commons (file page); exchange rates: Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0); airports: OurAirports.