Here are some most frequently asked questions about Sri Lanka travels and our answers. If you have any questions, feel free to leave your comment right below.
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Choosing the best time to visit Sri Lanka is quite tricky as it depends on the part of the country you’re going to. It a year-round destination with consistent warmth and lots of sunshine with an average temperature between 22 - 31℃. In general, the best time to visit the west and south coasts is between December and April, while on the east coast, it is best visited from May to October.
In general, Sri Lanka is a safe country to visit but with any international travel, remember to pay attention to your surroundings. Do not let your valuables out of your eyes and be cautious in local crowds and public areas to avoid pickpockets.
There is no restriction in bringing money in foreign currencies into Sri Lanka. This sum could be in TCs, Bank drafts or currency notes. However, if the total exceeds US$ 15,000, that sum must be declared to the Sri Lanka Customs.
You can exchange cash (USD or AUD) in Sri Lanka at hotels, trustworthy money changers or banks. At hotels, the exchange rate could be higher while in banks or money changers you will pay less. There are also exchange offices at international airports where you can change your money at any time.
You can easily exchange INR to USD in India at a good rate. However, to convert INR to LKR in your country, you have to pay a bad rate as not many Forex counters maintain a stock of LKR in India.
Moreover, after the trip, you can easily use your spare USD, but for LKR, you have to convert it to USD before getting it converted to INR.
Actually, the Indian rupee is not officially accepted in Sri Lanka. You can’t find official exchangers to exchange INR into LKR (Sri Lanka currency). Some black markets convert INR to LKR but at a bad rate. So the best way is to exchange INR to USD before going to Sri Lanka.
Only the Sri Lankan Rupee is used for transactions within Sri Lanka.
US$/ Euro etc. is accepted in most large hotels, and tourist establishments, but not for local expenditure. It is advisable to bring in US$/ Euro and change when needed.
Children under the age of 12 years are exempt from Visa to Sri Lanka.
Yes, a Sri Lanka visa on arrival for Indians is available. From August 1, 2019, Indian passport holders get a free Sri Lanka visa on arrival instead of paying RS 24,000 on visa fees on arrival in Sri Lanka as in the past.
The tourist or business Sri Lanka e- visa for Indian citizens allows a stay of up to 30 days in the country. An ETA is valid for 180 days from the date of application and allows you double entry into the country.