FAQ for Digital Nomadism In Sri Lanka.

Rice is a central feature in Sri Lankan cuisine, commonly served with fragrant curries, pulses, and pickled fruit or vegetable. If you’re not a fan of rice, you may be offered chapatis or Hoppers, which basically consist of thin pancakes made from coconut milk, fermented rice flour batter and various spices. Food in Sri Lanka is generally considered spicy and flavorful.

Sri Lanka is 5.5 hours ahead of the GMT. 2.5 hours ahead of the Singapore and 5.5 hours behind the Australia EST. The dialing code is +94.

Sinhalese is the main language although English is widely spoken across the island. Place names and signboards are generally displayed in all three official languages – Sinhalese, Tamil & English.

Predominately a Buddhists destination and has been identified as one of the last remaining Buddhist countries in the world. However, the coexistence of a large population of Christians, Hindus and Muslims promotes the idea of multi ethnicity and multiculturalism.

Local currency is Sri Lankan rupee and the notes are Rs. 5000, Rs. 2000, Rs. 1000, Rs. 500, Rs. 100, Rs. 50, Rs. 20. Coins will be in denominations up to Rs. 10. Tip 01 – In order to verify the genuineness of the currency you can always look for the watermark of a Lion. Tip 02 – Always make sure to carry plenty of lower denomination notes (50s, 100s & 500s) in order to buy smaller items or for actions such as tipping.

Surounded by the Indian Ocean and situated in the southern tip of Indian. Which has Total 65,610 sq. Kilometers.

Three zones can be identified by elevations and can be named as Central highlands, the woods & the coastal belt

21 million people of various ethnicity inhabit Sri Lanka. The prominent groups are by percentage, 75% Sinhalese, 15% Tamil, 9% Moors, and others 1%.

Hotels and shops accept most international credit cards. No surcharge is required for its use. Most widely accepted cards are ‘America express, Visa, Mastercard. It is advisable to enquire if your card type is accepted by the establishment before using any services.

Banks are generally open from 0900 Hrs. to 1500 Hrs. throughout the weekdays. Most banks are closed on Sundays, public holidays and special bank holidays. ATMs are found island wide adjoining banks and selected supermarket and city centers.

Most shops are open from 0900 HRs to 1800 HRs apart from the supermarket chains which are open from 0830 HRs to 2230 Hrs. Shops are usually closed on Sundays and Poya days.

Bottled Mineral water is available at most retail shops. Safe water bottles will bear the SLS product certification mark issued by the Sri Lanka Standards Institution, based on SLS 1336:2008 Sri Lanka standards specifications. Avoid drinking water from the tap.

Sri Lanka consist of 3 international airports which can be named as Bandaranayke international airport in Katunayake which is the main airport, Mattala Rajapaksha international airport & Jaffna international airport.

Sri Lanka is a photographer’s delight with stunning landscapes, eye-catching flora and fauna, unbelievable archeological remains and added bonus of locals who love to be captured on film. It is therefore easy to capture on film villagers, farmers, fishermen, tea pluckers etc.…. who will be willing to strike a pose. Your subject/s may request to have a copy of the picture sent to them and possibly expect to be compensated for allowing themselves to be photographed. It is important to note that strict regulations are imposed on photographing Buddhist imagery, temples and other religious sites which should not be carried out in a disrespectful manner. It is forbidden to be photographed in front or besides statues of murals. When photographing heritage sites (usage of drones and professional photography) special prior approval will be required.

It is customary to tip drivers, chauffeur guides, guides, jeep drivers, trackers / naturalists, hotel housekeeping / restaurant & bellboy staff if the services are found to be satisfactory. The average tip is $1  per client per hotel for housekeeping staff and $1 for bellboy staff per client per hotel. At most hotels and restaurants, a 10% service charge will be added to your bill, in which case additional tipping is purely at your decision.

Any dress code is accepted in Sri Lanka, but need to make sure that the appropriate dress-code includes covered legs (below the knees) and shoulders, with shoes/ sandals removed when visiting temples, shrines & other cultural/ historical places. It is vital to be disciplined when visiting such places in order to show your respect, admiration of local values, culture and sentiments. Note: Make sure not to carry or wear any clothing material or display a tattoo/s carrying the image of Buddha. Tattoos in particular may result in an arrest, detainment and deportation of a tourist.