Sri Lanka Travel Guide

Passports

Country	Passport Required	Visa Required	Return Ticket Required
Other EU	Yes	No/1	Yes
USA	Yes	No	Yes
Canadian	Yes	No	Yes
Australian	Yes	No	Yes
British	Yes	No	Yes

Passport should have one blank page and be valid for at least two months from date of departure required by all nationals referred to in the chart above.

Visas

All nationals mentioned in the chart will be issued with a free tourist visa valid for a period of 30 days on arrival at port of entry (for tourist visits only), providing tourist holds a return or onward ticket or sufficient funds for air ticket, and sufficient funds equivalent to a minimum of US$30 per day for board and lodging for the duration of stay. The Sri Lanka government has indicated it is thinking about introducing an online tourism visa in the future.

Tourists wishing to stay for over 30 days should apply at their nearest embassy for a 90-day visa. Business and transit visas are required by all nationals, although countries listed above can obtain a landing endorsement from Colombo airport if they wish to leave the airport and enter the country as tourists during the transit.

Visa Note

(a) Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements (see Important Addresses).

(b) Once in Sri Lanka, a visa type cannot be changed.

Types of Visa and Cost

Tourist and Business: single-entry, up to three months; multiple-entry, up to three months; multiple-entry, up to 12 months. Prices vary according to nationality – check with nearest consulate – but for British passport holders £38 for single-entry, Irish passport holders £11 single entry and for business multiple-entry three times the usual visa fee.

Validity

As above. Visitors can request to extend their stay by applying to the Department of Immigration & Emigration, Third Floor, 41 Ananda Rajakaruna Mw. Colombo 10, Sri Lanka (tel: (11) 532 9300; www.immigration.gov.lk). This is issued at the discretion of the authorities who must be satisfied that the applicant has at least US$30 per day for the stay, and holds an onward or return ticket for travel.

Applications to:

Consular division of the Sri Lanka High Commission

Working Days Required

Generally two days, although sometimes longer depending on the type of visa applied for.

Travel Warnings

Visas are required for trips to Sri Lanka. British Nationals receive a 30-day visit visa, free of charge, on arrival.

Although the conflict is over, extensive military operations are still ongoing, clearing minefields, unexploded ordnance and locating LTTE weapon caches (hides). The security forces are also involved in the resettlement of internally displaced persons (IDPs). Always obey orders from the security forces or signs warning about the danger from land-mines.

There have been a number of political rallies and protests in relation to Presidential elections which took place on 26 January 2010, some of which have turned violent. Campaigning has begun for Parliamentary elections, expected in April. Travelers are advised against all travel to the northern districts of Kilinochchi, Mannar, Mullaittivu and Vavuniya.

There is a high threat from terrorism. Since the start of 2008, fatal attacks have been increasingly frequent. They can be indiscriminate and have occurred in Colombo and throughout Sri Lanka, including places frequented by expatriate and foreign travelers.

On 4 February 2008, a bomb killed 12 people at Welioya, 120 kilometers north-east of Anuradhapura in northern Sri Lanka. A further 17 people were injured in the blast. On 3 February 2008, a bomb at the Fort railway station killed ten and injured more than 100 people. There was also a small explosion at Dehiwella zoo in greater Colombo that injured at least four people. On 2 February 2008, a bomb on a Kandy to Anaradhapura bus killed more than 20 and injured many more while it was stopped at a bus stand in the town of Dumballa in central Sri Lanka. On 8 January 2008, two bombs exploded in the greater Colombo area, killing a Sri Lankan government minister and injuring at least 10 other people. Methods used in these attacks have included suicide bombers, roadside bombs and timed devices. There were other significant attacks in Colombo throughout 2006 and 2007.

There is heightened security, particularly in Colombo and southern Sri Lanka. There have been detentions, particularly of people of Tamil ethnicity. Travelers should ensure that they carry some form of identification at all times. If you are a British national and are detained, you should ask the authorities to contact the British High Commission. It is strongly advised to comply with government and security force instructions.

There are reports of continuing fighting between the Sri Lanka government forces and the Liberation Tigers Eelam (LTTE) throughout the north and east. This has included the use of ground forces, artillery fire, mines, air and naval attacks. Further fighting could occur with little or no warning. On 22 October, the LTTE attacked a Sri Lankan military base on the outskirts of Anuradhupura, with ground and air forces. The police have announced a curfew in the city, requiring non-military personnel to stay indoors.

We do not advise against travel to the city of Anuradhupura, that straddles the A12 road, but you should exercise caution and seek the advice of your tour operator or the local authorities before traveling there. Sri La suffered from severe flooding in mid-January 2011. The eastern districts of Batticoloa, Ampara and Trincomalee were the worst affected with some access to the region cut-off. Central Sri Lanka also experienced landslides due to heavy rain, particularly in Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and Badulla areas. As of 18 January floods in the heavy rain have stopped and flood waters are receding. All main roads to the east are now passable.

It is strongly recommended that all overseas nationals who are resident and/or working in Sri Lanka, or visiting for over one month, register with their high commission or embassy in Colombo.

This advice is based on information provided by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the UK. It is correct at time of publishing. As the situation can change rapidly, visitors are advised to contact the following organizations for the latest travel advice:

British Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Tel: 0845 850 2829.
Website: www.fco.gov.uk

US Department of State
Website: http://travel.state.gov/travel

Health Care

Treatment is free at government hospitals and dispensaries; 24-hour treatment is available at Colombo National Hospital. Some hotels also have doctors.

Vaccinations

Vaccination	Special Precaution
Diphtheria	Sometimes
Hepatitis A	Yes
Malaria	Sometimes
Rabies	Sometimes
Tetanus	Yes
Typhoid	Sometimes
Yellow Fever	No*

Special Notes

* A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travelers over one year of age arriving from an infected area.