Sri Lanka travel guide: trip planner

Visa and entry requirements

Nationals from all countries apart from the Maldives and Singapore now require a visa, or “ETA” (Electronic Travel Authorisation) to visit Sri Lanka. These can either be obtained online before you arrive at www.eta.gov.lk or on arrival at the airport. The fee for a tourist visa is currently $30 if bought in advance online ($15 for citizens of SAARC countries), or $35 if bought on arrival. The visa is valid for 30 days and for two entries. Passports must be valid for six months after arrival. You can also buy a 30-day business visa online (also $30, SAARC citizens – $25).

Sri Lanka Visa Online extensions are given at the Immigration Service Centre (Unit 01, Liberty Arcade Building, 282 R A De Mel Mawatha (Duplication Road), Colombo 3; tel: 011 237 5972; info@immigrationlanka.com). The charge is based on what your own country charges a visiting Sri Lankan (see the website for a complete list of fees). Conditions for extensions are an onward ticket and proof of sufficient funds to support oneself while in the country, calculated at US$15 a day (a credit card should suffice). Proof of money spent in the country may be required, so keep all travellers cheque receipts and ATM receipts. Extensions normally take an hour or two to process.

Transport

Getting to Sri Lanka

By air

Sri Lanka’s largest international airport is Bandaranaike International Airport (www.airport.lk), at Katunayake, 34km (21 miles) north of Colombo, near Negombo. Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA)   opened in 2013 just outside the southern town of Hambantota.

The national carrier, SriLankan Airlines (flight code UL), has direct flights between Colombo and many destinations in Europe (including London, Paris, Frankfurt, Istanbul, Zürich and Milan); the Middle East (Abu Dhabi, Doha, Dubai, , Kuwait, Riyadh, Damman); India (Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Bangalore,  and Tiruchirappali); Pakistan (Karachi); southeast and east Asia (Bangkok, Hong Kong, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Shanghai, Beijing, Tokyo); and the Maldives (Male).

Other international carriers serving Colombo include Air Arabia, Air France, Air India, Air Seychelles, American Airlines, Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, Dragonair, Emirates, Etihad, ,Finnair, Jet Airways, Kuwait, Lufthansa, Malaysian Airlines, Mihin Lanka, Oman Air, Qatar, Qantas, Singapore, Turkish and Thai. The airport is also served by regular charter flights from Europe during the northern hemisphere winter.

SriLankan Airlines fly from MRIA to Beijing, Shanhai, Chennai, Jeddah, Male and Colombo.

[Source: https://www.insightguides.com/destinations/asia-pacific/sri-lanka/plan-your-trip]