The island that gave the world cinnamon — ancient rock fortresses at Sigiriya, elephants bathing in the Mahaweli River, colonial hill stations growing the world's best tea, and cricket-mad locals.
- Capital
- Colombo
- Population
- 21,763,170
- Area
- 65,610 km²
- Languages
- Sinhala, Tamil
- Currency
- Sri Lanka Rupee (LKR)
Good to know
Driving side
Left
National dish
Rice and curry, pittu, kiribath, wholemeal roti, string hoppers, wattalapam, kottu, and appam
Annual visitors
540,000 (2020)
Safety
Moderate (3.31/100k)
Big Mac
$5.69
Avg temp
27.3°C
Religion
Buddhism
Coast
Coastal
☎ Police 112 · Ambulance 110 · Fire 110
Travel guide
Sri Lanka (Sinhala: ශ්රී ලංකා Śrī Laṃkā; Tamil: இலங்கை Ilaṅkai), formerly known as Ceylon, is an island in the Indian Ocean, just south of India. It is known for its natural beauty, with stunning beaches all along its coastline, great wildlife and biodiversity, tea plantations, orchards, temples, monuments, and a cultural heritage dating back several millennia. Sri Lanka's cultural landscape includes the (mostly Buddhist) Sinhalese and the (mostly Hindu) Tamil ethnic groups, with substantial Muslim and Christian communities.
© Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA)
Explore Sri Lanka
Best time to visit
Sri Lanka has two monsoon seasons affecting different coasts. West and south coast: best November–April. East coast (Trincomalee, Arugam Bay): best May–September. Kandy and the hill country: January–April best. Yala National Park: February–July.
Visa
Most nationalities including US, UK, EU, Canada, and Australia apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) online at eta.gov.lk (USD 35). Processed quickly and valid 30 days.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites (9)
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Major cities
Colombo
Sri Lanka's chaotic, cosmopolitan capital, recently transformed with new restaurants, rooftop bars, and Galle Face promenade.
Kandy
The hill country capital, home to the Temple of the Tooth Relic and gateway to tea plantations and cultural triangle.
Galle
A UNESCO-listed Dutch colonial fort city on Sri Lanka's southern coast, with boutique hotels and excellent beaches nearby.