Sri Lanka - Info & Facts

Suggested length of stay

For first time visitors a minimum stay of 10 days is recommended in order to take in the countryā€™s cultural and scenic highlights. For those that want to combine cultural touring with a relaxing break at one of Sri Lankaā€™s spectacular beach destinations then 2+ weeks is recommended. For a great overview of the island we suggest travelling from the capital, Colombo to the cultural triangle before heading south via the beautifully scenic tea country before spending your last few days relaxing one of Sri Lankaā€™s picture perfect beaches. For those looking to travel to multiple countries Sri Lanka combines well with visits to India and The Maldives. Stopovers can also be incorporated in most of South East capital cities, depending on which airline you travel with.

Modes of transport

Rail
Train travel is possible throughout the whole country, however trains are slow and often run late hence, here at Oasis Travel we recommend travelling by private vehicle with a couple of exceptions to experience the scenic rail journeys in central Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka boasts some truly spectacular scenic rail journeys; an Oasis favourite is between Kandy and Nurya Elia which is a superb way to travel through the picturesque tea country.

Road
Most travel around Sri Lanka is undertaken by road in a private air-conditioned vehicle accompanied by an English speaking driver guide. Distances are relatively small (2 ā€“ 6 hours drive time) however road conditions are variable and some journeys can take a whole day, however regular stops are included both for comfort and sightseeing en-route.

Taxis/Tuk Tuks
Taxiā€™s are readily available especially in the major cities and popular tourist destinations, however you will find drivers very reluctant to use the meters, hence as in most Asian countries it is important to agree on a price before setting off. Indian made three wheelers, also known as tuk-tuks and trishaws are a popular way to get around main cities, however use them more for the experience as they are often more expensive than metered taxiā€™s.

Air
Colombo International Airport is the countryā€™s main entry and exit point by air. As Sri Lanka is a relatively small country domestic travel is generally done by road or rail as there is not really much of a domestic flight network and distances are not too vast between destinations.

Bicycle
Cycling excursions can be incorporated into any of our itineraries in particular around the historical sites of the cultural triangle. Mountain biking is a popular adventure activity especially through central Sri Lankaā€™s hill country, however you would have to be fairly fit and active for this as the terrain is pretty hard core!

Hiking
There are plenty of hiking opportunities and extended treks on offer predominately in central Sri Lanka with popular places including Knuckles Range, Nuwara Eliya and Adamā€™s Peak. Leisurely walks can easily be incorporated into all itineraries.

Geography

The tear drop shaped island of Sri Lanka is located in the Indian Ocean lying east of the southern tip of the Indian subcontinent and separated by the Palk Strait. Whilst only measuring 433kms in length and 244kms in diameter at the widest point, Sri Lanka is in fact home to over 22 million people. Sri Lankaā€™s central southern region comprises of hills covered with tea plantations and mountains including Mt Pidurutalagala and Sri Pada ā€“ commonly referred to as Adamā€™s Peak. The countryā€™s north is exceptionally rugged featuring dramatic landscapes like Knuckles Range. The countryā€™s coastline is home to some of the worldā€™s most pristine white sandy beaches bordered by wetlands

Food and drink

Dining in Sri Lanka is a sensory experience with vibrantly coloured curries, the tantalising aroma of exotic spices and the taste explosion of hot chillis! Daily staples include curry and rice, but not as you know it, spice blends are complex and coconut is a common ingredient, curries are usually accompanied by side dishes of pickles and chutneys. Short eats are a Sri Lankan institution and are most popular at lunchtime or as an afternoon snack, they can take various forms such as samosas, stuffed rolls and other delicious deep-fried pastries. Other traditional Sri-Lankan dished include hoppers, also known as Appa, and consist of a basic pancake batter thatā€™s spruced up with coconut milk and a splash of Sri Lankan palm wine, they are then cooked in small rounded pans so the dough cooks thick and soft on the bottom, and thin and crunchy around the edges. Hoppers can be ordered plain ā€“ perfect for dipping in curry sauce, or even better with a fried egg in the middle.

Tea drinking has been a Sri Lankan institution since the first Tea estate was established just South East of Kandy in 1867 by Englishman James Taylor. Sri Lankaā€™s hill country provides the perfect conditions for growing tea combining a warm climate with high altitude and an inclined terrain.

Drinking water

Do not drink the tap water anywhere in Sri Lanka, also avoid any food that may have been washed in it, at all times – no ice, no salads and no fruit you havenā€™t just peeled yourself. The majority of hotels will provide a couple of complimentary bottles of water a day; ensure to brush your teeth with it! Bottled water is cheap and readily available in most areas just make sure that the bottle have proper seals. Bottled water will be provided during all Oasis Travel transfers and excursions.

Money

Sri Lankaā€™s currency is the Sri Lankan Rupee (RS) with the current exchange rate (August 2013) around RS118 to AUD$1. ATMs are plentiful in the major cities such as Colombo, Kandy, Galle etc and large towns will usually have at least one. Credit cards are accepted at luxury hotels and high quality restaurants.

Tipping

Although optional, tipping is common practice in Sri Lanka. A guideline would be US$15-20 per couple per day for your driver guide this would normally be given on completion of your tour as you would generally have the same driver guide for the whole itinerary. It is quite common in Sri Lanka and greatly appreciated to tip general staff in your hotels, usually an individual tip comprises of 1-2 USD per person, however it is at the discretion of the guest and is a personal choice.

Time zone

Sri Lanka is 5.5 hours ahead of GMT and 4.5 hours behind AEST. There is no daylight saving in Sri Lanka and the same time zone applies for the whole country.

 

Visas

The Sri Lankan government introduced a new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system with effect from 1 January 2012. Foreign nationals who intend to visit Sri Lanka must obtain an ETA prior to arrival, the current cost is $20pp. More information on the ETA can be accessed online at Sri Lanka ETA ā€“ http://www.eta.gov.lk./slvisa/

Inoculations & health precautions
Ensure to consult with your doctor or local travel health clinic at least 6 weeks before travel to Sri Lanka. Health care in Sri Lanka is varied, Colombo now boasts a selection of modern, well-equipped private hospitals offering the latest in conventional medical and surgical therapies. Many medications are available over the counter in Sri Lanka without a doctorā€™s prescription, however it can be difficult to find some of the newer drugs, hence it is always advisable to take any necessary medicines with you.

Australian Embassy & Consulate contacts in Sri Lanka

Australian High Commission
21 Srimath RG Senanayake Mawatha
Colombo 7
Telephone : +94 112463200

Sri Lankan Embassy & Consulate contacts in Australia

Sri Lanka High Commission
No. 61, Hampton Circuit
Yarralumla, Canberra
ACT 2600
Australia
Telephone: +61 2 6198 3756

Electricity

Electrical sockets in Sri Lanka are generally 3 round pins, however you may also find US,EU & British style plugs in hotels.
Electrical sockets in Sri Lanka usually supply electricity at between 220 and 240 volts, 50 cycles.

Getting there (stopovers)

There are currently direct flights from Melbourne and Sydney to Sri Lanka with Sri Lankan Airlines. Also all the major Asian airlines fly to Colombo via their hub for example Singapore Airlines via Singapore, Malaysia Airlines via Kuala Lumpur and Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong to name a few. Stopovers can be included en-route to Sri Lanka in major Asian cities such as Singapore, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok.

A brief history

For thousands of years Sri Lanka or Ceylon as it was known until 1972 was occupied by hunter gatherers, until the 6th Century BC when the Sinhalese tribal groups arrived and the capital of the first Sri Lankan kingdom was established at Anuradhapura by a shamed North Indian prince called Vijaya. Until colonial powers took control Sinhalese and Tamil rulers fought for dominance over the island, the Tamils, primarily Hindus, claimed the northern section of the island whereas Sinhalese, who are predominantly Buddhist, controlled the south. After enduring years of Tamil raids Anuradhapura was abandoned in favour of Polonnaruwa in the south and by the 12th century, Tamil rulers had a permanent presence in the north.

Islam was established in Sri Lanka in the 7th Century when Arab traders started arriving to make their mark on the countryā€™s import and export industry, with Muslim settlements taking hold in Jaffna and Galle, however due to a European insurgence many Muslims were forced inland. By 1505 Ceylon had three main kingdoms; The Tamil Kingdom of Jaffna, and Sinhalese Kingdoms in Kandy and Kotte. It was around this time that the Portuguese arrived and conquered the entire west coast destroying many of the countries beautiful Hindu Temples and other cultural buildings.

The Dutch arrived in the early 17th century and keen to make their mark on the countryā€™s lucrative spice industry they built canals along the west coast to transport the spice crops, some if which still exist today around Negombo. The British took over from the Dutch and make the island a colony in 1802 and by 1815 they finally conquered the Kandyan kingdom and hence for the first and only time in history Ceylon was ruled by a European power. In the years that followed British nationals started settling throughout the country and English was declared the official language, the country was thrived due to its booming coffee industry and Tamil workers from south India were brought in to labour on the plantations. As a result of the coffee industry continuing to thrive Sri Lankaā€™s infrastructure was greatly improved with the development of roads, ports and railways, however due to disease eventually wiping out the coffee plants the plantations were converted to tea and rubber.

As the 20th century drew near the Sri Lankan nationalist movement established campaigns to educate locals in the faiths of Hinduism and Buddhism in order to encourage traditional cultures in favour of the European ways. The overall objective was to increase Sri Lankan involvement in Government which proved successful and by 1931 Sri Lankaā€™s leaders where included in the parliamentary decision process.

Independence was officially granted to Ceylon in 1948, however the country retained a close relationship with the British. Ceylon paved the way for female politicians by appointing the worldā€™s first female prime minster in 1959 before becoming a republic in 1972 and changing its name to Sri Lanka.

During the mid 1970ā€™s a group referred to as the Tamil Tigers was formed from a number of small groups of young Tamils who were From 1983 to 2009 Sri Lanka endured an intermittent civil war, which resulted in some displacement of people and human rights violations. More recently, parts of Sri Lanka were devastated by the 2004 tsunami, yet the country has rebounded with an increasingly stable economy based on agriculture, tourism and telecommunications. With one of the best performing stock exchanges in the world, Sri Lanka has emerged from conflict, natural disasters and colonisation to become a rising tourist and economic hotspot.

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