Facts & Figures
| – Official Name | Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka |
| – National Holiday | Independence Day, 04 February (1948) |
| – Size | 65525 sq km |
| – Geographic Coordinates | 6-10 N, 80-82 E |
| – Location | Island off the Southeastern shores of India, 800km north of equator |
| – Coastline | 1340 km |
| – Capital | Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte |
| – Commercial capital | Colombo |
| – Population (2012) | 20.3 million |
| – Languages | Sinhala, Tamil & English. English is widely spoken throughout Sri Lanka, with the exception of remote villages. |
| – Ethnic Mix | Majority are Sinhalese, minorities Tamil & Moor |
| – Religions | Mostly Buddhist, then Hindu, Christian & Muslim |
| – Major Exports | Textiles & garments, tea, diamonds, gems, rubber & coconut products |
| – Highest peak | Pidurutalagala (Mt. Pedro) At 2524m, Adam’s peak (Sri Pada), holy to believers of all religions, ranks 4th at 2,243m. |
Essentials
| – Time Zone | Five and a half hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+5 ½). Daylight Saving Time is not observed. |
| – Voltage requirement | 230/240 volts AC, 50Hz. Round tree-pin plugs are usual, with bayonet lamp fittings. |
| – Currency | Sri Lanka Rupee (Rs). 100 cents = 1 Rs. |
| – Travelers Cheques | Widely accepted in banks and money exchanges, a 1% stamp duty is payable, plus a small commission. |
| – Credit Cards | Increasingly accepted in the main areas, but don’t expect your local shop keeper to take one. |
| – ATMs | Common in larger towns |
| – Tipping | A service charge of 10% is added to all restaurant & hotel bills. A small tip (no more than 10%) above this is appreciated. Drivers expect a tip if you’ve bargained well. |
| – Working week | Monday to Friday |
| – Medical Facilities | The professional standards of doctors and surgeons are excellent with specialist, hospitals including Eye, Children’s, Ayurvedic and Maternity. For emergenciescall:
Fire and Ambulance Tel: 2422222 Police Tel: 2433333. Tuk-tuk and taxi drivers will know of the nearest hospital. |
| – GSM Network | 900 |
Transport
| – Taxi | Radio cars can be called by telephone and offer very good value. The minimum charge is Rs30 per kilometer. Other taxis are available, but are not metered, so it is wise to agree on the fare. Cabs from the airport taxi counter at Bandaranaike International Airport cost from Rs 1,000 – 1,500 for the journey to Colombo.Other taxi counters may charge more. Always ask. |
| – Hire Cars | Self-drive hire cars are readily available, but if it’s your first time here, consider hiring a car and driver from the counters at the airport or from your hotel.Drivers offer excellent insight into the island and great flexibility, staying in dedicated drivers’ rooms at the same hotel(s) as you. |
| – Tuk-tuks | You’ve not been to Sri Lanka if you’ve not travelled in a tuk-tuk. Rs20-30 per km. Bargain for the best prices. |
| – Trains | Many places of interest are served by trains from Colombo Fort station. |
| – Buses | A comprehensive network covering the island with express services between principal towns. Can get crowded. |
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