First time travel tips: Sri Lanka
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By Purna
- Published On
The majority of visitors are considered visitors or holidaymakers who want to enjoy the island for a short period. Whether you are a backpacker, Business traveler, or a volunteer, below is some useful information to be able to get in your first few days of your adventure in Sri Lanka.
First time travel tips For Sri Lanka Travelers
1. Covid Updates (*Old)
Due to COVID-19 diversity changes entry requirements to Sri Lanka can also be changed at a short notice over time during the pandemic season.
Here are some requirements to travel to Sri Lanka during a pandemic,
- Travelers must be fully vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine or similar.
- Travelers must have taken a PCR test within 72 hours before their flight to Sri Lanka. A negative PCR test must be a requirement for onboarding the flight.
- Travelers who are not fully vaccinated, are required to book a Level 01 hotel in order to quarantine for the given period of time (1 to 14 days).
More info. Can be found in the Sri Lanka Tourism
- To quarantine for the given period (1 to 14 days).
2. Applying E-Visa
Getting visa to enter the country is based on ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) E-Visa system. Nationals belonging to these countries in this list can apply for the visa online with proof of passport or legitimate travel document and obtain it in real-time in very simple steps.
Visa is a general platform that offers affordable solutions for those who want to travel overseas and are required to obtain a visa to travel overseas. This platform is perfect for those who intend to travel for either shorter or longer periods.
Take note of the visa requirements listed below.
3. Travel Insurance
Travel insurance helps you cover the expenses of an unplanned incident that can occur while you are on the road. Travel insurance can be chosen based on criteria such as
- Flight Cancelations,
- Loss of Passport,
- Loss of baggage or any other belongings,
- The medical condition of getting sick or injured,
- Any other accidents that could happen.
Find out more and get yourself a best travel insurance
As you may already experienced, On rare occasions flights can be canceled or delayed. This may lead to spoiling your travel plans.
We’ve heard such stories that happened to travelers during the COVID-19 pandemic season. Getting to know rights may avoid your frustrations as a passenger. AirHelp is a service that offers compensation to passengers if their flights are delayed due to certain circumstances.
Rates are quoted in US Dollars because of the tourists who are concerned, as the national currency is the Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR).
No credit card? No problem. You can own one for free.
If you are looking for reliable and secure banking that lets you withdraw money without paying commissions, few providers provide free debit card services for international travelers.
Whether you are a traveler or a self-employed freelancer N26, Monese, Transferwise, and Revolut offer a free debit MasterCard that lets you withdraw money free within the Eurozone and the smartphone app to make secure online transactions.
Read more about the Top free bedit cards for travellers to select a debit card that suits your personal needs.
5. Buying a Sim Card
A few tourist mobile plans are used to help travelers make the best and connect with their loved ones outside of their home countries. You can buy a SIM card from national mobile service providers easily once you step out of the main airport premises.
Even you can buy from local service outlets if you miss the chance to buy at the airport. Just bring your passport or visa to the authorized personnel.
Some of the most popular service providers in Sri Lanka with the best coverage are, Dialog Mobitel and Airtel.
It is possible to order your SIM card before the journey. Order your SIM card below and pick it up at the main airport of Colombo to avoid the hassle of choosing the right one.
6. Where to spend the first night?
Upon arrival, Most visitors choose to travel to Negombo to spend their first night after a long and tiresome flight, as Negombo is the closest city with a long sandy beach which makes it perfect to spend your first day as well as the last day before the departure from the country.
Negombo can be easily explored in a Day.
7. Getting Around
Do not forget to cover your legs and shoulders, especially when entering sacred venues such as Buddhist temples and mosques, etc. White cloths are recommended to wear. In most cases, everyone has to take shoes or slippers off when entering these religious venues.
If you are looking for budget transportation within Asia, 12go is the right place to search for that. Simply enter the journey details in the box provided below and book your ideal transfer.
Powered by 12Go Asia system
If you are looking for sightseeing and wildlife, adventure, honeymoon, cultural tour, or pilgrimages, we can help you customize your tour according to individual wishes and requirements.
Feel free to Contact Me mentioning your specific requirements.
7.1 Useful Sri Lankan phrases
The majority of the population in Sri Lanka speaks their third language English all major towns.
Below are some of the widely used and simple phrases that can be a partner in crime for your Sri Lankan journey, especially if you are traveling in rusty and ruler areas of the country where villagers are not used to English that much.
Trying to use some of the fun Sinhalese phrases below may lead to being eligible for buy one get one for free!
Here are some useful words that will help you travel around the country.
English Phrase
1. Hello!
2. How are you?
3. (I’m) Fine
4. Thank you!
5. I don’t understand
6. Do you speak English?
7. My name is Richard
8. What is your name?
9. I want
10. Where?
11. I’m hungry
12. Foods
13. I’m thursty
14. I need Water
15. Let’s go
16. Let’s eat Kottu
17. I need (a) Tuk Tuk
18. Very delicious
19. What’s the time?
20. Have a nice day
Sinhala Phrase (English)
1. Ayubowan!
2. Kohomada?
3. Mama Ho(n)din
4. Sthuthi !
5. Mata T(h)erenne ne
6. Oya ingrisi katha karanawada?
7. Mage nama Richard
8. Oyage nama mokadda?
9. Mata onae
10 Koheda?
11. Mata Badaginie
12. Kaema
13. Mata Thibahai
14. Mata wathura onae
15. Api yamu
16. Api Kottu kamu
17. Mata Tuk Tuk (ekak) onae
18. Harima rasai
19. Welawa keeyada?
20. Suba Dawasak
Sinhala Prase (Sinhala)
1. අයුබෝවන්!
2. කොහොමද?
3. මම හොදින්
4. ස්තුතියි !
5. මට තේරෙන්නෙ නෑ
6. ඔයා ඉන්ග්රීසි කතා කරනවද?
7. මගෙ නම රිචර්ඩ්
8. ඔයගෙ නම මොකද්ද?
9. මට ඕනෑ
10. කොහෙද?
11. මට බඩගිනියි
12. කෑම
13. මට තිබහයි
14. මට වතුර ඕනෑ
15. අපි යමු
16. අපි කොත්තු කමු
17. මට ටුක් ටුක් (එකක්) ඕනෑ
18. හරිම රසයි
19. වෙලාව කීයද?
20. සුබ දවසක්
8. Sri Lankan Customs, Imports & Exports
If you a traveller with an intention to import and export goods etc. here’s some useful details.
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