Travel Tips | Trueparadisetours

All visitors to Sri Lanka, whether on vacation or on business, must have an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before entering the country. Please go to www.eta.gov.lk to get your ETA in a few simple steps.

Entrance Fees & Photo Permits

Sri Lanka is a photographer’s paradise. Certain places, however, require licenses before you may take photographs. Individual site admission tickets are only available from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. These tickets include photography, recording, and parking fees. Rates are provided in US dollars, and Rupee parities are volatile.

Custom Imports

Duty-free 1.5 liters of spirits, two bottles of wine, a quarter-liter of toilet water, and a modest quantity of perfume and souvenirs for no more than US $250 are permitted into the nation. Personal items like as cameras and laptop computers are permitted, but must be declared upon arrival. Personal items, however, must be removed from the nation upon the visitor’s departure. Importing non-prescription medications and pornography in any form is illegal.

Foreign Currency Regulations

Upset Stomach

Because most stomach problems are caused by sloppy meal preparation, it’s helpful to know what to look out for. Undercooked seafood (particularly shellfish) and meat (particularly pig and mince) can be dangerous. Salads can be dangerous if the veggies have not been washed in filtered water. Avoid eating fruit that has previously been peeled. Be wary of ice cream, especially the variety sold by street sellers and eaten at low-cost restaurants. Power outages occur from time to time in Sri Lanka, particularly in rural areas, thus it is prudent to avoid any refrigerated items if you are aware of a recent outage in your region.

Water

Because tap water is unsafe to drink, and boiling and filtering are sometimes done too quickly in certain hotels and restaurants, drinking bottled water is the best option. There are currently several brands available, the most of which use spring water from the island’s mountains. Check that the bottle has an SLS certification and that the seal is only broken in your presence. Be wary of ice unless you are certain it was not formed with tap water, and keep in mind that the tap water you may be tempted to use to rinse your mouth after brushing your teeth is harmful. For this purpose, keep a bottle of water in your bathroom.

Sunburn

When you flop onto the beach or a poolside lounger for some sunbathing, remember to use a sunscreen with a UV protection rating of at least 15. Keep in mind that you are just 600 kilometers from the equator. Even if you use sunscreen, you should restrict your time spent in the sun. If you don’t wear sunscreen, you’ll become so sunburned that it’ll hurt to move, your skin will peel, you’ll have to start again to obtain that tan, and, most importantly, you’ll put yourself at danger of major dermatological illness.

Heatstroke

Heatstroke may occur when people spend too much time in the sun, with dehydration being the most prevalent cause. This disorder can develop if the body’s heat-regulating mechanism weakens and the body temperature increases to dangerously high levels. A high temperature accompanied by a lack of perspiration, flushed skin, severe headache, and decreased coordination are the symptoms. Furthermore, the patient may get disoriented. If you suspect someone has heatstroke, remove them from the sun, cover their body with a damp sheet or towel, and seek medical attention. Bring lots of bottled water to the beach to avoid heatstroke, or get a thambili (king coconut) from an itinerant vendor.

Prickly Heat

Prickly heat rash develops when your sweat glands become blocked as a result of being out in the heat for an extended period of time or from excessive sweating. Small red pimples or blisters form on the elbow creases, groin, upper chest, or neck. To cure it, take a cold shower, scrub the rash with gentle soap, dry yourself, and use hydrocortisone cream and, if feasible, a salicylic acid-containing medication. Every three hours, repeat.

Local Health Care

Minor health issues may always be handled by doctors who have practices in resorts and around the nation. If you have a more serious condition, Colombo now has a number of sophisticated, well-equipped private hospitals that provide the most up-to-date conventional medical and surgical treatments. A rising number of foreigners are taking advantage of Sri Lanka’s economical, high-quality private healthcare and combining it with the opportunity to vacation. Though the medical tourism business in Sri Lanka is still in its infancy, a handful of private institutions in Colombo are equipped to deliver modern surgery and other treatments to overseas patients.

Travellers With Special Needs

Travellers with special needs should be informed that the nation has comparatively few services for handicapped persons, especially if they travel without a partner, while increased awareness and improvements are on the way. There’s no need to be concerned at Colombo International Airport because wheelchairs and assistance with boarding and disembarking are provided. Buildings, businesses, and banks are increasingly outfitted with wheelchair ramps and other accessibility features. If you aren’t traveling with a partner, you’ll discover that Sri Lankans are more than willing to help.

Sri Lanka’s Currency

The Sri Lankan Rupee is the native currency, and it is split into 100 cents (you rarely come across Cents today). The denominations of the currency notes are Rs. 5,000, Rs. 2,000, Rs. 1,000, Rs. 500, Rs. 100, Rs. 50, Rs. 20, and Rs. 10. Be careful not to confuse the Rs. 500 note with the Rs. 100 note. Look for a lion watermark to determine whether notes are authentic when they are not issued by a bank. If you got coins, they would be in values of up to Rs 10. Make sure you have sufficient of lesser denomination notes (Rs. 50, Rs. 100, and Rs. 500), especially if you’re traveling and need to buy little products, fruit, or eat cheap meals, because change might be difficult to come by outside of hotels and large stores.

Banks

Monday through Friday, banks are open from 0900 hrs until 1300 hrs. Some city banks close at 1500 hours, while others remain open on Saturday mornings. It is simple to withdraw money from ATMs around the island using international credit or debit cards.

Credit Cards

Most hotels, restaurants and shopping centres accept credit cards. Some establishments may try to add a surcharge, which is illegal.

Time Difference

Sri Lanka Standard Time is five and a half hours ahead of GMT (Summer-time variations in Europe should be factored in.)

Electricity

230 – 240 volts, 50 cycles alternating current Bring a laptop stabilizer if you are traveling with one.

Language

Sri Lanka has two official languages: Sinhala and English. Sinhala and Tamil are the official languages, with English serving as a liaison language. The majority of people understand English, and signboards are frequently in English.
Restrictions and Permits for Photography Sri Lanka is a very gorgeous island, so it’s not surprise that most tourists carry a camera with them when they visit. The breathtaking scenery, enthralling animals and luxuriant vegetation, and amazing ancient remnants give excellent chances; an added advantage is that Sri Lankans like being photographed. As a result, capturing the traditional country lifestyle is simple.Villagers, farmers, fisherman, and tea pluckers will gladly pose for your camera. Your subjects will frequently want a copy of the photograph. This may be time-consuming, but it is a reasonable politeness given that many people have never seen a photograph of themselves. It is also logical that many people may demand a little remuneration for agreeing to be photographed.

Restrictions

When it comes to Buddhist iconography, there are several key rules to follow. When visiting a temple or other holy location, keep in mind that photography should not be done in a disrespectful manner. For example, photographing in front of or next to sculptures and paintings is severely prohibited. It should be noted that flash photography might cause harm to historic murals.

What To Wear

Cotton clothing is appropriate at any time of year, but for the hills, you’ll need light woolens and waterproof outerwear or an umbrella. Women should dress modestly, especially while leaving the beach and attending religious locations. Don’t forget to wear comfy shoes, sandals, or trainers, as well as cotton socks. If you intend to travel or climb, be sure you have the necessary equipment. Water sports aficionados should bring their snorkeling and diving equipment.

Getting There

Typically, all tourists to Sri Lanka come by plane through the Bandaranaike International Airport, which is 35 kilometers north of Colombo and 6 kilometers south of Negombo. Throughout the year, a number of travel companies from the United Kingdom and various West European towns provide low-cost package trips.

Public Places

Crowds of people in public areas might be overwhelming at times (railway stations, markets, bus stands, temples or simply busy streets). Touts and hawkers may rush, push, and scream to show you a hotel and sell you anything. Taxis and tuk tuks are frequently present when they are not required.

Safety

In general, the risks to personal security for visitors visiting Sri Lanka are surprisingly low. It is more enjoyable to travel with a friend because it is not recommended to travel alone, especially after dark. The island including the North and East is safe to visit. If you have anything stolen, report it to the tourist Police (Special tourist police set up to look after the needs of the tourists) Contact tel Number + 94 11 2382209

Drink

Sri Lankan ‘Ceylon’ tea, as well as coffee, are made in the same manner as in the West. There is a wide selection of bottled soft drinks available, including well-known worldwide brands. Thambili (King Coconut water) is a healthy and delightful alternative. Local beer and spirits may be found in plenty. In 5-star hotels, bottled mineral water is supplied. Please keep in mind that alcohol is not available on Poya (full-moon days of the month).