Sri Lanka

Travel tips for Sri Lanka: safety advisories, currency and cash vs. card, tap water, plugs, local phrases, food, and advice from travelers.

Cash and cards

Carry some cash. Cards work at supermarkets and hotels, but cash is king for tuk-tuks, local dining, and small vendors. Travelers advise carrying small LKR notes, as exact change is expected and ride-hailing drivers often refuse card payments.

Try the food

Kottu Roti (කොත්තු රොටි): A popular street food made of chopped flatbread stir-fried on a hot griddle with vegetables, egg, meat, and aromatic spices.
Hoppers (ආප්ප): Bowl-shaped, crispy-edged pancakes made from fermented rice flour and coconut milk, often served with a soft-cooked egg in the center.
Lamprais (ලම්ප්‍රයිස්): A flavorful parcel of rice, meat curry, eggplant, and sambol baked together inside a folded banana leaf.

Say it in Sinhala

Hello: ආයුබෝවන් (Ayubowan)
Thank you: ස්තුතියි (Sthuthi)
Please: කරුණාකර (Karunākara)
Excuse me: සමාවෙන්න (Samāvenna)
How much is this?: මේක කීයද? (Mēka kīyada?)
The bill please: බිල දෙන්න (Bila denna)
Yes / No: ඔව් / නෑ (Ow / Nǣ)
Goodbye: ගිහින් එන්නම් (Gihin ennam)

Essentials

Plugs: Type D / Type G / Type M
Voltage: 230V, 50Hz
Driving: Left side
Tap water: Avoid — buy bottled
Emergency: 119 (Police), 110 (Ambulance / Fire)
SIM tip: Purchase a Dialog or Mobitel tourist SIM card at the arrivals hall in Bandaranaike International Airport for the most reliable island-wide 4G coverage.

Etiquette

Always use your right hand for eating, handing over money, or giving and receiving items, as the left hand is traditionally considered unclean.