Sri Lanka || ශ්රී ලංකා
Sri Lanka is located in the Indian Ocean southeast of India. From there it is separated by the Palkstraße and the Gulf of Mannar. The coral islands of the Adams Bridge are a loose connection between Sri Lanka and the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
Sri Lanka, formerly known as Ceylon, can be divided into three different landscapes: the central highlands with the famous tea-growing areas and mountains up to 2500m high, lowlands fertile centuries ago by artificial irrigation, and the coastal area with fishing and palm beaches.
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Facts & Figures
Capital: Sri Jayawardendepura (legally speaking), Colombo (in practice)
Form of Government: Republic
Currency: Sri-Lanka-Rupee (LKR)
Official Languages: Sinhala and Tamil
Religions: Buddhist (approx. 70%), Hindu (approx. 13%), Muslim (approx. 10%), Christian (approx. 7%)
Area: 65.610 km²
Population: 22 Mio.
The Central Highlands in the southern centre of Sri Lanka are the heart of the country. In the heart of the highlands there is a 65km long plateau. The highest elevation of the country is the Pidurutalagala (2,524m). Two mountain ranges define the island, one stretching 50km to the east towards Namunakula (2,036m), the other 50km to the west towards Sri Pada (2,243m). To the west and east, the centre of the highlands is bordered by two plateaus; to the north and south are further mountains, each separated from the centre by valleys. The 240 metre high Bambarakanda Falls are the tallest waterfalls in Sri Lanka.
However, most of the island consists of large tropical plains 30-200m above sea level. The transition from the plain to the central highlands is abrupt, making the mountains seem like a wall. The plain to the north and east is flat and divided by narrow granite ridges towards the highlands. spacer
The island is surrounded by a coastal belt 30 metres above sea level. The coasts of Sri Lanka are mostly sandy beaches.
Climate
Sri Lanka’s climate is tropical with varying rainfall. The country is characterized by a warm climate with mild sea breezes and high humidity. Average temperatures range from 16 degrees Celsius in Nuwara Eliya in the central highlands (where there may even be snow and frost in winter) to 32 degrees Celsius in Trincomalee on the northeast coast of the country. The average annual temperature for the whole country ranges from 28 degrees Celsius to 30 degrees Celsius. The coldest month is January and May is the warmest.
The southwest of Sri Lanka is rather humid with maximum rainfall in May and October.
The northeast and east coasts have little rainfall, as this area is located in the Lee of the Central Mountains. This is where most precipitation falls during the northeast monsoon in November and December.
The rainfall pattern is influenced by the monsoon winds. From mid-May to October, southwesterly winds bring moisture from the Indian Ocean. When these winds hit the central highlands, heavy rain showers occur in the mountains and in the southwest of the country. The east and northeast of the island get little rain during this time. In the second season, from October to November, there are periodic gusts of wind and sometimes cyclones that bring cloudy weather to the island. In the third season, from December to March, the northeast monsoon brings moisture from the Bay of Bengal to the north and northeast of the country. The last season from March to mid-May brings little rainfall.
Best time to travel
Due to the different effect of the climate on the island, there is also a different good travel time depending on the region. Thus, Sri Lanka can be traveled quite well throughout the year.
From March until about the end of September it is best to travel in the east, north and in the cultural triangle. From December to the end of April it is better to travel the south and west coast, as well as the highlands. There remain two months that are not so great for traveling the country: October and November.
Attention: Of course, the weather does not always follow these rules and can actually be quite different than expected.
What to do in Sri Lanka?
Although the island is not too big, there is a great variety of activities here. This ranges from water sports to cycling and hiking trips, to safaris, trips focusing on the culture and religion of the country, to wellness and Ayurveda holidays, pure beach holidays and culinary delights. The island also has a lot to offer for families. Even smaller children will be thrilled here.
Entry
Citizens of the EU and Switzerland need a visa to enter the country, which must be applied for electronically. Usually you get feedback within 5 days of the request. The visa is valid for a maximum of 30 days within a period of 90 days. Multiple entry is allowed. The link to the application: Link for ETA
Cultural Specifics
Please pay particular attention to religious rules: Dress appropriately when visiting temples and behave respectfully. Shoulders and knees should be covered. It is absolutely frowned upon to be photographed with your back to a Buddha statue. And even with tattoos with Buddhist motifs, the Sri Lankan authorities are not joking: Such motifs on the skin are best to cover (especially when entering the country you should not show them).
Food & drinks
Sri Lanka is especially known for its spicy cuisine – chili is one of the main ingredients. It must be included in all rice and curry dishes. For non-vegetarians, dishes with chicken and fish are particularly tempting. In addition, there are a number of exotic fruits that grow on the island.
Eating is done with the hands – so if you want to imitate this, make sure to use the right hand and leave the left one out of it. The left hand is considered unclean.
Please only put as much on your plate as you can eat, leaving something is considered impolite.
Sri Lanka is of course also a tea country and therefore the tea, next to the water, the most important liquid “food”.
Medicinal Notes
No special vaccinations are required for entry into Sri Lanka. However, vaccinations against hepatitis, diphtheria, polio, tetanus and typhoid are recommended. Please inform yourself in time at the tropical medical institute, at the health office or at your family doctor! In some regions malaria and dengue fever occur – here it is important to protect yourself from mosquito bites. A personal first-aid kit with your own medicines is absolutely necessary and makes it easier to act in case of illness. The heat should also not be underestimated. Frequent hand washing and avoiding unpeeled, raw fruit and vegetables – even in salads – can prevent diarrhea.
Safety
The northern part of the country with its minefields due to the conflicts between Tamils and Sinhalese which have been going on for several years can only be visited with official permission.
Apart from that, Sri Lanka is a relatively safe travel destination with comparatively low crime rates. However, we advise women to be more careful if they plan to travel to Sri Lanka alone. As in other countries, sexual assaults can occur in Sri Lanka.
Special Regulations
- Smuggling and possession (!) of drugs are punishable by death.
- Same-sex relationships are illegal. Public expressions of affection should therefore be avoided.
- On the shores of Sri Lanka there are sometimes dangerous sea currents. Bathing bans must be complied with at all costs.
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