How Things Work in Sri Lanka
Everything Tourists Need to Know
Tip 10% at tourist restaurants, 500–1,000 LKR per day for guides and drivers, and round up for tuk-tuk rides.
Updated 2025-06
PickMe and Uber work in Colombo; tuk-tuks are everywhere; trains are iconic and scenic; buses are cheap but very crowded.
Updated 2025-06
Good private hospitals exist in Colombo (Nawaloka, Lanka, Asiri); healthcare outside the capital is limited, making travel insurance essential.
Updated 2025-06
LGBTQ relationships are criminalized, posing disrespectfully with Buddha statues can get you arrested, and drugs carry severe penalties.
Updated 2025-06
Police: 119; Ambulance: 110; Fire: 111; Tourist Police: 1912.
Updated 2025-06
Cover shoulders and knees at all Buddhist temples, remove shoes and hats at every religious site, and dress modestly in cultural areas.
Updated 2025-06
Alcohol is widely available at licensed venues but is completely banned island-wide on poya (full moon) days each month.
Updated 2025-06
Bargaining is expected with tuk-tuks and at markets; use PickMe or Uber for fair app-based prices; fixed prices apply at supermarkets and formal shops.
Updated 2025-06
Photography is generally free, but posing disrespectfully with Buddha statues is illegal and tourists have been arrested and deported for it.
Updated 2025-06
Poya (full-moon) days are national holidays with alcohol bans and some closures; cities operate commercially 7 days a week otherwise.
Updated 2025-06
PickMe is the dominant local app; Uber also works in Colombo; tuk-tuks are everywhere but always negotiate the price before boarding.
Updated 2025-06
Never drink tap water anywhere in Sri Lanka — drink sealed bottled water only and always check the seal before consuming.
Updated 2025-06
Commercial Bank, HNB, and Sampath Bank ATMs are most reliable for foreign cards; carry cash in rural areas as card acceptance is limited.
Updated 2025-06
Buy a Dialog SIM at the airport on arrival for the best coverage — passport required, data packages are cheap and fast.
Updated 2025-06
Sri Lanka uses Type D (3-pin round) and Type G (British 3-pin square) sockets at 230V/50Hz — bring both adapters or a universal adapter.
Updated 2025-06
The gem scam and tuk-tuk overcharging are the most common tourist traps — use PickMe and never buy gems from shop introductions by strangers.
Updated 2025-06
Sri Lanka is generally safe for tourists; petty theft exists in Colombo and at beaches but violent crime against tourists is rare.
Updated 2025-06
Remove shoes at temples, never touch a monk or turn your back to Buddha, and use the right hand or both hands when giving and receiving.
Updated 2025-06
English is widely spoken in tourism, hotels, and cities; Sinhala is the majority language with Tamil in the north and east.
Updated 2025-06
Stunning beaches span three coasts with different best seasons — always swim within flagged areas due to strong rip currents.
Updated 2025-06
Drive on the left; an International Driving Permit is required alongside your home licence; hiring a driver is strongly recommended over self-driving.
Updated 2025-06
Rice and curry is the national dish served daily; hoppers, kottu roti, and fresh seafood are must-tries; food is spicy by default so specify mild if needed.
Updated 2025-06
Remove shoes and hats at all religious sites, cover shoulders and knees, and never disrespect or touch sacred images or monks.
Updated 2025-06
Two monsoons split the island by coast: west and south are best December–March; east coast is best April–September; hill country is cooler year-round.
Updated 2025-06
Sri Lanka is extremely affordable — eat at local restaurants, travel by train and tuk-tuk apps, and stay at guesthouses to keep daily costs very low.
Updated 2025-06