Capital: Colombo (commercial); Jayawardanapura (administrative).
Language: English, Sinhala and Tamil.
Electricity: 230/240V AC 50Hz.
Int. direct dialling code: 94.
Driving: is on the left. An International Driving Permit is required. Temporary licence is available on presentation of national licence which must be endorsed at the AA office in Colombo. Minimum driving age is 18.
Currency: Sri Lanka Rupee (LKR1 = 100 Cents).
Notes: LKR:5; 10; 20; 50; 100; 500; 1,000.
Coins: LKR: 1, 2, 5. Cents: 1, 2, 5, 10, 25, 50.
Business hours
Banks: 9am-3pm Monday-Friday.
Offices: 9am-5pm Monday-Friday.
Shops: 9am-5.30pm Monday-Friday, 9am-1pm Saturday
Emergency services
Police, Fire and Ambulance: 90.
Health
Compulsory vaccinations: yellow fever certificate if arriving from infected areas. Exempt, infants under 1 year.
Clothing
Lightweights or tropical clothing with rainwear at all times. Warmer clothes are necessary in the hilly areas, especially between November-January.
Business/social hints
Appointments: should be made in advance. Punctuality is appreciated.
Attire for business meetings: dress conventions informal, for business meetings men should wear a lightweight suit and tie or equivalent.
Women should dress conventionally and revealing clothes should not be worn.
Etiquette: men shake hands on meeting and taking leave. Some persons may prefer not to shake hands with those of the opposite sex. Smoking is generally accepted.
Language: the business community generally speaks English.
Invitations: restaurants usually add a service charge, further gratuities optional.
Typical tropical climate. Lower level temperatures and humidity are high throughout the year, temperatures on the coast are moderated by sea breezes. Interior highland temperatures are reduced by altitude giving a pleasant climate, not too hot during the day and not too cold during the night.
Rainfall is heavy/moderate everywhere and well distributed throughout the year. The southwestern coast and mountain slopes are the wettest areas, mainly between April-June and October-November.
The northeastern side is much drier, with little rainfall between Febru- ary-September, the main rainy season being May-June.
Weather
Colombo Temp C Humidity % Rain
Max/Min am pm mm
January 32 22 73 67 90
February 31 22 71 66 70
March 31 23 71 66 148
April 31 24 74 70 230
May 31 26 78 76 370
June 29 25 80 78 224
July 29 25 79 77 135
August 29 25 78 76 110
September 29 25 76 75 160
October 29 24 77 76 347
November 29 23 77 75 315
December 29 22 74 70 147
Colombo
Bandaranayake International CMB
Postal address: Bandaranayake International Airport, Katunayake Contact: telephone +94 1 252861/2/3/4/5.
Fax: +94 1 253187.
Location: 20 miles north of Colombo.
Transportation to city: Bus:PTBservice 187, every 30mins, fare LKR8, journey time 75mins. Intercity service 187 every 30mins, fare LKR 20, journey time 30mins. Train: Ceylon Government Railway, twice per day, fare LKR9 journey time 60mins. Taxi:fare LKR 670 (with air con 10% more) journey time 45-60mins.
Airport departure tax: International: LKR 500. Note: infants are exempt.
Flight information: tel 0735555-2730,available 24hrs.
Passport and Visa
Required
Customs
Import allowances
For non-residents of 18 years of age or older:
a) 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 340gr of tobacco
b) 2 bottles of wine and 1.5 lit of spirits
c) Perfume for personal use and 250ml oftoilet water.
Note: In case of members of the same family travelling together, free import is generally only allowed for two members of the family.