What to Wear
Cotton Clothing and lightweight suits are most suitable. As beach wear wide brimmed hats and sunglasses are recommended. In upcountry one should wear pullovers, medium thick slacks, as climate could turn cold. When visiting places of religious importance one must be properly attired. (like wearing longs). A pair of sandals would come in handy.


What to Declare
Tourists will have to declare currency, travelers cheques, drafts, etc. upon arrival, other valuable items like gold, silver, gems, jewelry, must be declared too.

Currency
Currency of Sri Lanka is Sri Lankan Rupees (LKR.)

Time Difference
Sri Lanka is 6 Hours ahead of Greenwich time. (GMT +06:00) Colombo.

Working Hours
Normal working Hours are from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday, 9 am to 1 pm on Saturday. Sundays and public holidays are not working days.

News Papers
News Papers are published in English, Sinhala and Tamil languages. The names of these newspapers are as follows. Daily news, The Island, The Sunday times, Sunday leader, MidWeek Mirror, Sunday Observer, Lankadeepa, Diwaina. Etc.Some of the newspapers are available on the Internet.

Radio channels.
There are several radio stations transmitting on Sinhala, English & Tamil languages. The names and frequencies of stations are as follows Yes FM 89.5, TNL Radio 101.7, E-FM 100.4, Sun FM 99.9, Sirasa FM 106.5, Him FM 107.9, Tharu FM, Sri FM 99, Pawana FM (SLBC) Suriyan FM, Shakthi FM, Etc
Some of the radio channels are available on the Internet.

Television Channels
There are 8 TV channels in Sri Lanka. These channels are as follows. Rupavahini (SLRC), I.T.N., Channel Eye (Discovery Channel), Swarnavahini, Sirasa TV, ETV (Sky News), Dynavision (Telecasts CNN), MTV (Telecasts BBC),
In addition to the above TV Stations there are two cable- TV operators operating in Sri Lanka.
Some of the TV channels are available on the Internet.

Transport
Taxis : One could find taxis (Radio Cabs) operated by a number of companies.
These are available on quick call within Colombo and suburbs. If the taxis are not metered be prepared to bargain the fare.

Auto-Rickshaws (Three Wheelers): always negotiate if the charge is more than Rs. 20 per Kilometer. These are omnipresent through the country.

Trains: traveling by train is the best way to see the country. Train routes cover the hill country, down south, northern dry zone and most other places of interest. One can travel to Kandy (Hill Capital) by the ways of early 19th century on "Viceroy special", a locomotive consisting of luxury compartments and run by charcoal combustion.

Buses: Buses run by state along with privately maintained coaches maintain a comprehensive, island-wide network, which makes traveling cheaper and convent. Air-conditioned coaches operate between cites.

Telephone /Internet/E-mail
Communication facilities are aplenty in Sri Lanka. There are many Communication Centers, Post offices, Cyber Cafes, in Colombo and in other cities and towns. Internet Services, IDD, Fax and many other facilities are available at above-mentioned places.

Medical Facilities
There are many public and private hospitals; nursing homes and other institutions providing medical services in the city of Colombo and in all other cities throughout the country. The professional standards of doctors, surgeons and other medical professionals are on par with international standards. The Major health care institutions found in Colombo and suburbs are follows.
Colombo General Hospital
Sri Jaywardenapura,
Kalubowila

Voltage
230-240 Volts 50cycles AC

Information Service
The Tourist Information Center (TIC) run in Colombo by the Ceylon Tourist Board is located at 78, Steuart Place, Galle Road, Colombo 3.
Tel:437571,437059,437060.
Kandy TIC - Headman's Lodge, 3, Deva Veediya, Kandy, 08-22661. Open 900 hrs. to 1645 hrs. on weekdays. Saturday 0900 to 1300 hrs.
Negombo TIC - 12/6, Lewis Place, Negombo. Open 0900 - 1715 hrs.
Hikkaduwa TIC - Commercial Bank Bldg., Galle Road, Hikkaduwa. Tel : 09-23397
Airport TIC - Located in the arrivals lounge of the International Airport, Katunayake and open day and night. Tel: 452411

Tourist Police
Special Tourist Police Units are available to assist our visitors.

Tourist Police Units
Tourist Police, Fort Police Station, Bank of Ceylon Mawatha, Fort, Colombo
Tel: 433342
Galle Road, Moragalle, Beruwela
Ethukala, Negombo Pushpadana Road, Kandy. Tel : 08-22222.
Sigiriya Village Hotel Road, Sigiriya
Police Station, National holiday Resort, Bentota. Tel: 03475022.
Police Station, Galle Road, Hikkaduwa. Tel: 0957222

Entry Fees and Photographic Permit to Archaeological Sites
Anuradhapura (US$12)
Sigiriya (US$12)
Polonnaruwa (US$12)
Kandy (US$ 10)
Nalanda (US$10)
Inclusive tickets for all sites - (US$30),
are available from the Central Cultural Fund 212/1 Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7. Tel: 500732,