Sri Lanka

EXPLORING SRI LANKA

Also known as “the Teardrop of India”, the tropical island paradise of Sri Lanka is situated off the Southern coast of Indian sub-continent. Formerly known as Ceylon, Sri Lanka has a rich cultural history that dates back over 3000 years and comprises a colourful tapestry of diverse cultures that have blended together throughout its history, including the Sri Lankan Tamils, Moors, Indian Tamils, Malays, Kaffirs and the aboriginal Vedda. The island is also home to a diverse landscape of stunning natural scenery, from misty mountains to pristine beaches, emerald forests to picturesque lagoons. Indeed, the island’s natural beauty also means it is famously known as “the Pearl of the Indian Ocean”.

TRAVEL INFORMATION

Contemplating a villa holiday in Sri Lanka? Here is some useful information to help kickstart your vacation planning.

Location:

• The island of Sri Lanka is situated off the Southern coast of India in the northern Indian Ocean. Sri Lanka shares maritime borders with India to the northwest and the Maldives to the southwest.

Passport and Visa Information

• Since January 2012, visitors must apply for an ETA visa online before travelling to Sri Lanka. The “Tourist ETA visa” lasts for three months and gives visitors the chance to enter the country twice in that time. The maximum stay for each entry is 30 days, although visitors that want to stay for up to 90 days can apply for an extension.

Currency

• Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR)
• USD1:LKR 130.7
  EUR1:LKR 178.2
  GBP1:LKR 217
  (for exchange rate updates check on www.xe.com)

Official Language(s)

• The official language of the country, Sinhala, is spoken by 74 percent of the country. However, 18 percent of the country’s population uses Tamil and English is commonly used by the government and spoken by around 10 percent of the population.

Climate:

• Tropical climate with warm, humid weather throughout the year. The two main rainy seasons are from October to January on the north-east of the island and from May to July on the south-west of the island.

Quick Facts:

• International Tourist Arrivals in 2012: 1 million
• Capital: Colombo
• Country / Area Calling Code(s): +94
• Electricity: 220V – 240V, 50 Hz
• Type(s) of plug / socket: mainly D, M and G

Destination Information

• Sri Lanka Tourism Board (www.srilanka.travel)

TRANSPORTATION INFORMATION

Now that you have selected your destination, here are some pointers on how you can get to your Sri Lanka villa.

Airport Info

• Colombo-Bandaranayake International Airport, one of two national airports in serving Colombo is situated 22 miles north of the city. Passengers can take direct flights to Sri Lanka from cities in Europe, Asia and the Middle East, although visitors from Australasia and America often have a stopover.

Other Means of Arrival

• There is no regular ferry service to and from Sri Lanka, although some cruise ships include the island as part of wider tours.

Approximate (Scheduled Flight) Travel Time from:

• Los Angeles: 19hr+ depending on connecting layover
• New York: 18hr+ depending on connecting layover
• London: 11hr+ depending on connecting layover
• Moscow: 8hr+ depending on connecting layover
• Shanghai: 6hr+ depending on connecting layover
• Sydney: 11hr+ depending on connecting layover

Posted by Max Vee