| Q: |
What’s
the standard voltage used In Sri Lanka? |
A: |
230-240
volts. 50 cycles A.C |
|
| Q: |
What
are the postal charges? |
A: |
For
information on postal rates contact
the General Post Office, Janadhipathi
Mawatha, Colombo 1. Tel: 326203. Cost
of postage for PPC – Rs. 14.00/- |
|
| Q: |
What
are the prohibited items to export and
import? |
A: |
Ivory,
antiques, living plants, reptiles and
living animals are prohibited .Precious
stones could be carried with a permit. |
|
| Q: |
What
is the currency used In Sri Lanka? |
A: |
Sri
Lanka has a decimal currency system.
One Sri Lankan rupee is divided into
100 Sri Lankan Cents. Currency notes
are in the denominations of Rs. 10/-,
Rs. 20/-, Rs. 50/- Rs. 100/- Rs. 200/-,
Rs. 500/- and Rs. 1000. Denominations
are clearly marked in figures on both
sides of the notes and stated in English
addition to Sinhala and Tamil. Coins
commonly in use are of the following
denominations: 5 cents, 10 cents, 25
cents, one Rupees, two Rupees, five
Rupees and ten Rupees. |
|
| Q: |
Are
Credit Cards Accepted? |
A: |
Many
hotels and shops accept reputed credit
cards. No surcharge should be permitted
for its use. Cash advances are possible
against Credit Cards in certain banks. |
|
| Q: |
Banking
Facilities? |
A: |
Banking
facilities have grown and widened tremendously
to cope with the sophisticated needs
of today’s businessmen. Sri Lankan
and foreign banks provide an expanding
range of services to investors. |
|
| Q: |
At
what time do banks close? |
A: |
Banks
keep increasingly flexible hours to
suit customer convenience. All banks
are opened from 09.00 hrs to 13.00 hrs
Monday to Friday. Some city banks close
at 15.00 hrs while some others have
night banking facilities too. Banks
are closed on Saturdays and Sundays,
all Public Holidays and on Special bank
holidays (June 30th and December 31st). |
|
| Q: |
Who
can enter the Airport? |
A: |
Entry
to the Bandaranaike International Airport,
Katunayake, is restricted to all visitors.
Only embarking passengers are permitted.
The same rule applies to those waiting
to meet incoming passengers. There is
also a vehicle-parking fee of is Rs.100/-
to Rs.250/- depending on the vehicle. |
|
| Q: |
What
are the customs formalities? |
A: |
Visitors
are required to re-export articles brought
in as personal effects. Make sure that
you take back cameras and photographic
equipment and any transistor radios,
recorders and sound equipment declared
on arrival. The custom check is usually
oral. However, random examinations of
baggage are carried out. |
| |
|
|
| Q: |
Are
there restricted hours to obtain bank
exchange? |
A: |
The
banks at the International Airport are
operated 24 hours at departure and arrival
as well as some private banks. |
|
| Q: |
How
to purchase duty free products? |
A: |
Sri
Lanka has a large variety of goods at
BIA duty free shops. People who are
purchasing them should have a permit
of entry & departure. |
|
| Q: |
What
are the entrance permits required? |
A: |
Tourist
who wish to visit or photograph the
principal ancient monuments in Sri Lanka
are required to obtain a ticket from
the Central Cultural Fund. A single
round ticket for two months validity
will cost US $ 32.50. This will entitle
the holder to:
1. View historic monuments in Sri Lanka
(except Dambulla, Dalada Maligawa &
Isurumuniya Temples)
2. Photography is permitted to the monument
or affect religious susceptibilities.
3. Entry to all archaeological museums.
There will be separate charges at each
site for those who do not obtain round
tickets. The cost of entry tickets to
Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa or Sigiriya
is Us $ 15 per adult and half rate per
child per site, while to Kandy is US$
12/-, Nalanda US$ 5/-, Ritigal US$ 5/-,
Medirigiriya US$ 8/- (accepted in rupees
value per adult and half rate per child).
Tickets are available at the office
of the Central Cultural Fund. 21 2/1,
Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 07. Tel:
587912, 500733, 581944 or Central Cultural
Fund Project offices at Anuradhapura,
Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya and Kandy. |
|
| Q: |
What
are the languages used? |
A: |
English
is widely used. But the official languages
are Sinhala and Tamil. |
|
| Q: |
How
to hire vehicles? |
A: |
It
is very easy to have a vehicle with
a driver. The price of the vehicle with
a driver is approx. Rs. 30/- per km.
A long trip from Colombo to Anuradhapura,
Polonnaruwa, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Galle
and back to Colombo cover approx. 1000km. |
|
| Q: |
What
are the International Direct Dial (IDD)
facilities? |
A: |
International
Direct Dial (IDD) telephone Services
are readily available through your hotel,
or from the roadside public payphones
situated in all parts of Colombo and
its Suburbs, and also in several provincial
towns, too. There are card-operated
payphones. The phone cards are easily
obtainable from shops. The minimum cost
of a phone card is 100/-. When touring
it is best to obtain a phone-card before
setting out. |
|
| |
| Q: |
Do
we need vaccination? |
A: |
A
certificated for the vaccination of
Cholera and Yellow Fever is a must. |
|
| Q: |
How
are the road facilities? |
A: |
Sri
Lanka has a good network of metalled
roads. Connecting all principal towns
and places of tourist interest. |
|
| Q: |
Do
we need visas? |
A: |
Refer
Travel Tips. |
|
| Q: |
What
is the best season for beaches? |
A: |
November
to April – South West May to October
– North West |
|
| Q: |
Where
is Sri Lanka situated? |
A: |
In
the South – Eastern shares of
India, 880 km North of the equator in
the Indian Ocean. 7 to 10hours flying
time from Europe. |
|
| Q: |
Why
is Sri Lanka so special? |
A: |
Sri
Lanka is a unique island. Its wide bio-diversity
is within an area of 65.525 sq.km. |
|
| Q: |
What
can we buy in Sri Lanka? |
A: |
Beside
the traditional tea, gems and spices,
tourist can buy some of the most attractively
priced garments and crisp linen in Sri
Lanka. |
|
| |
