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logo, which shows the water
has been tested by the
government’s Sri Lanka
Standards Institution (the
majority of local brands).Insurance
Unless you are definitely
sure that your health cover-
age at home will cover you
in Sri Lanka, you should take
out travel insurance – bring
a copy of the policy as evi-
dence that you’re covered.
Worldwide travel insur-
ance is available at http://www.
lonelyplanet.com/travel-
insurance. You can buy,
extend and claim online
anytime – even if you’re
already on the road.Internet Access
Internet facilities are avail-
able across Sri Lanka. In
the smallest of towns, look
around the bus stand. Ac-
cess costs Rs 100 to Rs 150
per hour.
Wi-fi in guesthouses and
hotels is common in Co-
lombo and touristed areas
of the coasts and inland
areas. It’s often free, except
at some top-end places,
which can charge excessive
rates. Connection speeds
are acceptable – but don’t
expect to stream a film. Also,
reception in rooms may not
work.Legal Matters
Sri Lanka’s legal system is a
complex, almost arcane mix
of British, Roman-Dutch and
national law. The legal sys-
tem tends to move slowly,
and even a visit to a police
station to report a small
theft can involve a whole lot
of time-consuming filling out
of forms. The tourist police
in major towns and tourist
hotspots should be your
first point of contact in the
case of minor matters such
as theft.Drug use, mainly locally
grown marijuana, but also
imported heroin and meth-
amphetamine, occurs in
tourist centres such as
Hikkaduwa, Negombo and
Unawatuna. Dabbling is
perilous; you can expect to
end up in jail if you’re caught
using anything illegal.Maps
Digital maps, online and in
apps by Apple, Bing and
Google, are usually up to date.Money
The Sri Lankan currency is
the rupee (Rs), divided into
100 cents; pricing in cents
is rare. Rupee coins come in
denominations of one, two,
five and 10 rupees. Notes
come in denominations of 10,
20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000,
2000 and 5000 rupees.ATMs
ATMs are easily found in
towns and cities of any size.
ATMs often issue Rs 5000
notes. Try and break a few
as soon as possible as small
vendors may not accept
large notes: you can usually
do this inside the bank that
operates the ATM.Cash
Any bank or exchange
bureau will change major
currencies in cash, including
US dollars, euros and British
pounds. Change rupees back
into hard currency at the
airport (before security, there
are no exchange counters
after) prior to leaving, as
even nearby countries may
not exchange Sri Lankan
currency.Credit Cards
MasterCard and Visa are the
most commonly accepted
credit cards. Cards are
generally accepted at some
midrange and most top-end
hotels and restaurants.Moneychangers
Moneychangers can be found
in Colombo and major tourist
centres. Their rates are com-
petitive but choose carefully,
as money-exchange scams
abound. Stick to banks or
reputable offices, such as
those at the airport. ATMs
are safer and more reliable.Tipping
Although a 10% service
charge is added to food
and accommodation bills,
this usually goes straight to
the owner rather than the
worker.
̈ Restaurants and bars
Up to 10% in cash to servers
beyond the ‘service charge’
̈ Drivers 10% of total feë (^) Room cleaners Up to
Rs 100 per day
̈ (^) Bag carriers/porters
Rs 50 per bag
̈ (^) Shoe minders at temples
Rs 20
̈ Guides Varies greatly;
agree to a fee in parks and
religious sites before you
set out
Opening Hours
Generally you’ll find the fol-
lowing opening hours in Sri
Lanka, although variations
exist. Outside of tourist areas
much is closed on Sunday.
Banks 8am to 3pm Monday to
Friday
Bars usually close by midnight,
last call is often a sobering 11pm.
Government and private
offices, post offices 8am to
4 .30pm Monday to Friday (but
they are not standardised)
Restaurants and cafes 7am to
9pm daily, later in areas popular
with travellers
Shops 10am to 7pm Monday to
Friday, 10am to 3pm Saturday
Shops and services catering to
visitors 9am to 8pm