Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has a tropical climate with distinct wet and dry seasons. Still, it has two different monsoon seasons, as well as an ‘inter-monsoon’ season, from July – September, that affects different parts of the island. And at different times- If you’re prepared for unexpected bursts of rain, it’s still a good time of year to travel and to enjoy the beaches.

Temperatures remain high across the country at around 85°F average, and the beaches are hot and dry. So regardless of when you choose to travel, you will enjoy some good weather depending on where you go. Generally, Sri Lanka is a round-the-year destination, you have to know which side of the island to focus on in any given month, and this is never more important than when planning your beach destination.

December to April is the best time to visit- like many South-East Asian destinations- as this is dry season and best for those looking for sun and sea. When you are enjoying the sea breeze on beaches, you'll hardly feel the humidity, but once you leave the sand, you'll undoubtedly notice. Overall, the best time to see the whole country would be April and September, and May to August is the low season when the Yala Monsoon hits. Nevertheless, it is still a favorable time to visit the North and East.

Although Sri Lanka has quite a good record of medical facilities, nevertheless, it may not always be of a western standard, especially outside main cities, and emergency medical treatment isn’t readily available. Colombo is the only option for treatment. So, we suggest that you visit your health professional at least 4 to 6 weeks before your trip to check whether you need any routine vaccinations or other preventive measures. And those with pre-existing health problems, consulting your doctor would be great.

Hospitalization and treatment can be costly. So it is also necessary to make sure you have the right travel health insurance and enough funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad and repatriation. We suggest all travelers vaccines for typhoid, Hepatitis A, B, E, Rabies, Yellow Fever, Influenza, Japanese Encephalitis, etc. if you are traveling to Sri Lanka.

Since all regions here also experience outbreaks of the mosquito-borne dengue fever, therefore, it would be better if you take steps to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes. As of 2017, suspected cases of dengue fever have been reported to be higher as compared to 2016. However, pre-travel preparation and safe eating and drinking and avoiding mosquito or any insect bite can cut down your risk of becoming sick while traveling. Since Sri Lanka has a tropical climate, it's essential to apply sunscreen all the time when you go out to avoid any heat rashes or allergies.

Sri Lanka is easily accessible by air. The leading Airlines in Sri Lanka is SriLankan Airlines (flight code UL) operates to and from Colombo-Bandaranayake International Airport (IATA: CMB). Flights are accessible from cities throughout Europe, Southeast Asia, Australia, China, Japan, the Middle East, India, and Pakistan. 

Sri Lankan Air is also available to fly to nearby destinations such as Chennai, Trivandrum, Mumbai, Delhi, Cochin, Bangalore, Coimbatore, and the Maldives. While there are daily flights direct or indirect flights being operated, there is no direct flight that operates from the United States, but flying Emirates through Dubai is recommended. Even though Sri Lanka has two international airports, Bandaranaike International Airport at Katunayake is Sri Lanka’s primary international airport, which is at 30km north of Colombo. Many of the major airlines fly into Bandaranaike International Airport, such as Singapore Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Thai International Airways, Cathay Pacific, Saudi Arabian, and Spicejet (India) operate to Colombo-Bandaranayake from their respective home bases.

You must have a passport with a remaining validity minimum of six months when you return from the trip. You also need to make sure that you are not running out of blank visa pages. All foreign travelers, with exception to the citizens of a few countries, must obtain the Electronic Travel Authorization-in short ETA. Electronic Travel Authorization is valid for 30 days from the date of issue. The application process for a Sri Lanka ETA visa is entirely online. As long as you have a valid passport and credit card, you can apply for and receive an ETA Visa by filling out a simple form and pay the application fee by your credit card. Also, please make sure that your passport has at least one blank page, and the validity date in your passport should be at least six months from the date of entry to Sri Lanka. And it is possible to extend your visa.

ETA Exemption: Citizens of Singapore, Maldives, and Seychelles are exempt from the requirement of obtaining ETA and can get a visa on arrival.

Diplomatic passport holders of Belarus, Chile, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia and Vietnam also do not require visa for Sri Lanka.

Citizens of the following 19 countries must obtain a visa in advance from one of the Sri Lankan diplomatic missions: Cameroon, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Egypt, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Myanmar, Nigeria, North Korea, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Syria & Uganda.

The misunderstanding of whether or not Sri Lanka is a safe country to visit still stays, and it is justified entirely due to the harsh civil war between 1983 and 2009. Most tourists indeed kept away during this phase, but after the end of the civil war, this is entirely a different phase altogether.

With friendliest people, Sri Lanka is a remarkably safe place to travel in, and violent crime against foreigners is almost unheard of. However, take the necessary measures to ensure safety by avoiding conversations that include topics like politics and religion, walking alone after dark, keeping your valuables like money and passport in a safe place, avoid rallies and substantial public gatherings, etc. It is also wise and cautious to avoid smoking and drinking in public places as it is against the law.

Side-step from taking any photos or filming around High-Security Zones like all military establishments and some government buildings, including official residences and also you are advised not to pose for a photograph next to a statue of Buddha. Make sure to keep updated about the weather or any natural disaster constantly. It will help you take any necessary action immediately. If you are going to the beach, make sure you are not alone and know how to swim.

Besides being cautious about the smallest details, it is also smart if you plan well, read travel advice from experts - you will find many on websites. And leave a detailed itinerary with someone at home and try and keep in regular contact with details. Paying attention to these smallest details will surely help you avoid getting into trouble and ensure a safe trip.