The “pearl” of the Indian Ocean – the flourishing country of Sri Lanka on the island of Ceylon (Sri Lanka) – is famous for its ancient history, traditions and rich culture. The blessed land as the world center of Buddhism is imbued with peace. Temples, monasteries, treasuries, statues and ruins of ancient cities constitute the historical heritage of this country. A Rich tropical forests and exotic landscapes amaze with their beauty. The golden coast, azure ocean, clear skies and emerald flora attract tourists from all over the world. Exotic fruits and original national cuisine, tea plantations on the endless hills, gems and unique architecture have brought world fame to Sri Lanka.

Geography of Sri Lanka

According to Listofusnewspapers, the South Asian island state of Sri Lanka occupies the entire island of the same name, which is also referred to as Ceylon. The size of the island of Tasmania or Ireland, it is washed by the Indian Ocean, and from the northeast by the waters of the Bay of Bengal. For the most part, Sri Lanka is a flat island with altitude fluctuations from 30 to 200 m. The coastal part is sandy beaches that stretch along the entire coast of Ceylon. Only in its central part is a mountainous area with the highest peak – Mount Pidurutalagala (2524 m) on the Central Plateau of the island.

Capital

Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte

Area

The area of Sri Lanka is 65,610 km. sq., occupies the 119th place in the world by area.

Population

21 338 000

Currency

State currency – Sri Lankan rupee

Language

The official language is Sinhalese and Tamil

Visa to Sri Lanka

To arrive in Sri Lanka, Russian citizens must apply for a visa. The cost of a tourist visa is approximately 20 euros. It can be issued at Colombo airport upon arrival, or in advance on the ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization System) website. At the Sri Lankan airport, a migration card in English is filled out for a visa. Next, you need to go to the “Visa on arrival” counter, which is located in front of passport control in the arrivals hall. This is where the visa fee is paid. The visa stamp itself is placed at passport control. In this case, you must present return tickets and confirmation of your hotel reservation. The validity of the passport must be at least 6 months from the date of completion of the trip. You must also have proof that you have sufficient funds for the trip.

Weather in Sri Lanka

On the island, the weather rarely surprises: there are no sharp temperature fluctuations throughout the year. Even in the hottest and coldest months, the difference in temperature is only 2-3 degrees, so the change of seasons is practically not felt, and tourists could come here all year round (if not for the rainy season). The average annual temperature on the island is 28-30°C, while on the northeast coast the thermometer can rise to 38°C. What makes the seasons different is the amount of rainfall. In general, the climate is humid, but most of the rain falls in the summer, but tourists should not worry about the rest: it mostly rains at night. Usually these are short and heavy showers for 15 minutes. However, lovers of swimming at night should forget about their preferences, because due to strong winds, which rises during the rains, large waves form in the ocean. In the largest cities of the country, the humidity is high, and the temperatures are quite high. The most comfortable conditions for living are in the coastal areas of the country. In the mountains, the climate is cool: the average temperature here is 16 ° C, and at night it can even drop to 10 degrees, which is why hotels turn on heating devices. Due to the predominance of the equatorial climate on the island, the rainy season stops, and it is replaced by a dry climate in winter and autumn, but “zenithal rains” still happen. And since the northeast monsoons dominate in the northeast from November to February, and the southwest monsoons, which are favorite for tourists from May to September, it is better to relax in the north and east in summer,

Transport

Sri Lanka can only be reached by plane. From Russia to Colombo I fly direct Aeroflot planes. In winter, there are charter flights from Moscow (or from other Russian cities). Approximate flight time via Mala is 9 hours. There are also flights to Sri Lanka with transfers in some European and Asian cities. Qatar Airways offers the cheapest and most convenient flight through Doha. In Sri Lanka you can use taxi services. The trip will cost you about 25 rupees per 1 km. Auto rickshaws will also be at your service (for 15-20 rupees). You can rent a car. As for the roads, they are good, but narrow, so there are traffic jams. On the roads, you should be careful, as the rules of the road are often not respected.

Electricity

The mains voltage is standard – 230-240 volts, however, Sri Lankan sockets have three contact inputs. But each hotel provides adapters.

Religion

Sri Lanka is one of the most religious countries in the world, because the religions of the locals take an important place in everyday life. Therefore, visiting this country, you need to take the customs of the locals seriously. For example, one should not turn one’s back to Buddha images. If you want to take a picture against the background of the image, then it is better to move away from it. Buddhism dominates in Sri Lanka, it is practiced by more than 75% of the population, mostly Theravada Buddhists. 15% of citizens preach Hinduism (Tamils). The remaining 15% are Catholic Christians (8%) and Islamists (7% Sri Lankan Moors). If you have a desire to visit any Sri Lankan temple, then you should remember some rules: a short skirt, defiant clothes, shorts, hats, clothes that open the shoulders and back, and shoes are unacceptable in this case.

Security

Sri Lanka is safe for tourists. Since the end of hostilities in the country in 2009 due to the Tamil-Sinhala conflict that has torn the country apart, security has been under the control of local authorities. Be prepared for the fact that on the streets of cities you can see the military and checkpoints on the roads, since the state of emergency, introduced in the country back in 2005, is still in effect for security and prevention purposes. People in uniforms have the authority to search citizens without a warrant, but this is of little concern to guests of the country. However, it is better for tourists to always carry identification documents with them, especially if you are vacationing in the north or east of Sri Lanka. Remember that in this country, as in any other where you are a tourist, it is better to refrain from participating in various demonstrations and processions in order to avoid many problems. You should not be afraid of signs warning of mined areas – not all civil war mines have yet been found. Just follow the safety rules and do not turn off the main roads when moving. Tourists are prohibited from taking pictures of the military, police, as well as any military installations and government agencies. The case with the prevention of crime in the country is going well. Serious crimes do not happen. The only thing that tourists need to remember is the safety of personal belongings, since thefts in public transport and from hotel rooms still happen. It is better to carry documents with you, rather than leave them in hotel safes, so take care of the presence of hidden pockets on your clothes in advance. It’s better for girls and women not to go on vacation alone, to avoid increased attention to them from the men of the local population. Be vigilant when choosing travel services and buying tickets for various excursions – tours may turn out to be non-existent or sold by scammers at deliberately inflated prices. It is worth double-checking the opening hours of a particular attraction, as it is sometimes beneficial for scammers to deceive you even in such trifles. You should also be careful with monkeys: insidious animals can bite or steal any small things from you, such as a camera, a chain or a wallet. Remember that topless sunbathing is only allowed near hotel pools or on private beaches, as nudity is illegal in this country. Smoking is also prohibited: in public places, transport and in reserves.

Health

In order to avoid health problems, it is better for foreign tourists to have an insurance policy with them and bring all the necessary medicines with them, and fakes are often found in local pharmacies, or drugs do not meet quality standards, so low prices in pharmacies should not attract you. As for medical care in Sri Lanka, it is quite high quality. Medical services in the country are provided in paid and free institutions. At the same time, of course, it is still better to seek medical help in paid hospitals. There is no need to have any special vaccinations before entering the country, but it is a good idea for all visitors to get vaccinated to prevent malaria that mosquitoes can carry. You should protect yourself from their mowing with the help of clothing and special repellents.