sri-lanka-13-full-pdf-ebook.pdf

Directory A–Z

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Obtaining a Visa
Before visiting Sri Lanka, do
the following to get a 30-day
visa:

̈ (^) Visit the Sri Lanka ETA
(Electronic Travel Authorization;
www .eta .gov .lk) website
several days before arriving.
̈ Follow the online
application process and pay
with a credit or debit card.
̈ Once approved, print out
the visa confirmation.
You can still obtain visas at
Sri Lankan embassies abroad
and there is a counter at
Bandaranaike International
Airport for people who arrive
without a visa, although you’ll
have to wait with the other
visa-less masses and pay a
small penalty.
Visa Fees
The visa fees are as follows:
̈ (^) Transit visas good for 48
hours are free
̈ (^) Standard 30-day tourist
visas cost US$30
Visa Extensions
You can renew a 30-day
tourist visa twice, for 30 days
each time. Contact the De-
partment of Immigration
and Emigration (%011-237
5972; www .immigration .gov.
lk). Extensions are not hard
to get but require jumping
through some bureaucratic
hoops and downloading
some forms.

Volunteering

Following the tsunami in
2004, Sri Lanka became a

focus for many volunteer

efforts and organisations.

Many volunteer opportuni-

ties continue.

International Volunteer

HQ (IVHQ; www .volunteerhq.

org) Organises a wide-range of

volunteer experiences, including

teaching, medical care and

temple renovation.

Millenium Elephant Foun-

dation (www .millennium

elephantfoundation .com)

Located near Pinnewala, the

group cares for elephants rescued

from abusive situations. Volun-

teers assist with animal care.

Sewalanka Foundation

(www .sewalanka .org) uses

short-term volunteers with

business development and

agricultural expertise.

Volunteer Sri Lanka (www.

volunteersrilanka .net) Has

short-term volunteer positions,

especially for teachers.

Women Travellers

Women travelling alone may

experience uncomfortable

levels of male attention.

Outside of Colombo, it is a

good idea to cover your legs

and shoulders, though you’ll

be stared at no matter what

you wear. Tight tops are a

bad idea. And away from the

tourist beaches of the South

and West, consider swim-

ming in a T-shirt and shorts.

In Colombo and popular

tourist areas you can relax

the dress code. ‘Are you

married?’ could be the snap-

py conversation starter you

hear most often, so consider

wearing a fake wedding ring

and carrying a few pics of

your imaginary partner back

home.

Women travelling alone

may be hassled while walk-

ing around day and night,

or while exploring isolated

places. Physical harassment

(grabbing and groping) can

occur anywhere. Single wom-

en may be followed, so try

to be connected with larger

groups of people. There have

also been cases of solo wom-

en being attacked by guides

at heritage sites; again, don’t

go alone.

However, travelling in Sri

Lanka is not one long hassle.

Unpleasant incidents are the

exception, not the rule. But

remember there are many

social environments that are

almost exclusively male in

character – local bars, for

example.

Stock up on tampons as

they can be very hard to find.

Bus & Train Travel

Women travelling solo will

find buses and trains trying

at times. In Colombo ordi-

nary buses are so packed

that sometimes it’s impos-

sible to avoid bodily contact

with other passengers. Stray

hands on crowded buses

and trains happen; this is

something that local women

are also subjected to. Change

your seat or sit with a local

woman. If you gesture to a

local woman to sit next to

you, she’ll understand.

Women travelling solo

should avoid night trains.