Maximum Length : 432 km
Maximum Breadth : 224 km
Land Area : 65,525 Sq. km
Excluding Inland Waters : 62,336 Sq. km
Coastal area : 1,340 km
Highest Waterfall : Bambarakanda – 241 meters
Highest Peak : Pidurutalagala – 2524 meters
Longest River : Mahaweli River – 335 km
Climate : Sri Lanka’s tropical climate brings temperatures around 27°C – 30°C (80 ºF – 90 ºF) to most regions of the island. The hill country in the central province is the coolest and the mildest place, where Nuwara Eliya tops the list with a mean average of 16°C. Other upland areas also experience a temperate climate that can span between 16°C to 20°C (60 ºF – 68ºF). The coastal areas are warmer with average temperatures around 27ºC (80ºF). The March-June season experiences slightly higher temperatures of up to 33ºC (92ºF), while the temperatures in November-January are a few degrees lower at around 24ºC (75ºF) at the coast. Jaffna in the most northern part of the country, records a temperature of 28°C – 32°C (82 ºF – 92 ºF).
Monsoon rains bring the two main rainy seasons here. The Yala monsoon brings rainfall to the country’s western and southern regions from May to September and has a dry season during December through March. The Maha monsoon affects northern and eastern Sri Lanka and often lasts from December to February, with the dry season usually lasting from May to September. This region receives significantly less precipitation than the other half of the country. There is also an inter-monsoonal period in October and November during which rain and thunderstorms occur frequently across the island.
Sri Lanka is a year-round destination as while one area can have poor weather, the other region is likely to be experiencing good conditions. The most popular season for tourism is between December and March, when the country attracts a large number of Europeans looking to escape the Northern Hemisphere’s winter weather. Christmas and the New Year are particularly popular for a Sri Lankan holiday. You can find balmy weather for beach holidays on the east coast from April to November, while in the west it is ideal from December to March to hit the beach. However, be aware that Sri Lankan weather can be unpredictable during any season.
What to wear : Pure, lightweight cotton clothes are the most comfortable to wear, since Sri Lankan tropical climate is hot and humid. For cooler hill areas, you will need a light sweater at night. Dress standards are conservative on the island, and it is appropriate to wear loose, long and lightweight clothing. When visiting religious areas, you are required to wear clothes that are well-covering. Gents can wear long trousers that cover the knees, or a sarong with a shirt or t-shirt. Ladies may wear long trousers, long skirts and blouses and shirts that are not deep necked or sleeveless. Comfortable flip-flops, shoes, sandals and cotton socks, are essential too.
People
Population : 22 Million
Nationality : Sri Lankan
Ethnic groups : Sinhalese 74.90%, Sri Lankan Tamil 11.15%, Sri Lanka Moor 9.30%, Indian Tamils 4.12% Sri Lankan Malay 0.22% Burgers 0.19% Others 0.13% (2012 EST)
Religions : Buddhist 70.10% Hindu 11.15% Muslim 9.66% Christian 7.62% Others 0.03% (2012 EST)
Population Distribution : Urban Population: 18.6% of total population (2019)
Population density : 323.4 per km2 (837.6 people/mi2)
Life expectancy at birth : 75.7 years (72.2 – men, 79.4 – women)
Languages : 92.64% of adult population (aged 15 years and above) in Sri Lanka are able to read and write. Literacy rate for adult male population is 93.63% & 91.71% for adult female population.
Sinhala and Tamil are the official languages of Sri Lanka. Sinhala is widely spoken in the southern, western and central parts of the island, while Tamil is almost exclusively spoken in northern and eastern parts of the island.
Other than Sinhala and Tamil, many minority languages exist spoken by small communities of people. The best known of these minority languages is Veddah, spoken by the Veddah people, who are a group of tribal hunter gatherers that live in the forests of central Sri Lanka. Veddah is closely related to Sinhala and both languages have a number of words borrowed from each other. Also, the Rodiya community that lives in the Hill Country speaks a language of their own, sometimes considered a dialect of Sinhala. The Sri Lankan Moors speak a form of Tamil heavily influenced by Arabic. The Malay Muslims in Sri Lanka speak Creole Malay, a mix of Bahasa Malaysia, Tamil, Sinhala and Arabic.
Majority of Sri Lankans are conversational in English, so you are unlikely to face communication issues. Sri Lankans learn English as a second language at school starting from primary grades. Sri Lankan English is essentially British English infused with quirky local phrases and words. Sri Lankan English might not be entirely comprehensible to native English speakers due to the accent and words borrowed from local languages.
Currency, Credit Cards & ATM Machines
The Sri Lankan currency is the Rupee (Rs), divided in to 100 cents. Notes come in denominations of 20, 50, 100, 500, 1000 & 5000. The Sri Lankan Rupee is used only for transactions within Sri Lanka.
US$, Euro, GBP and all other major currencies accepted in most large hotels, and tourist establishments, but not in outlets catering to locals. Advice to bring in your local currency and change as and when needed.
The exchange of foreign currency is only permitted at banks, money changers and Hotels.
Credit Cards are widely used and accepted by local establishments (even in small towns). The most widely used card types are Visa and MasterCard, with Amex to a lesser extent. It would be a convenient option to use your Credit Card (valid for international use) whenever possible.
ATM’s are available in most main cities. You can take cash against Visa / Mastercard in most ATM’S. However, as different banks accept different cards, we advice you ensure that your card is valid for use in Sri Lanka by contacting your bank. Watch out for the Maestro or Cirrus logo.
Health Service
Sri Lanka has one of the most effective health systems among developing nations. Sri Lanka is proud to say that it has one of the best hygiene records in South Asia. Treatments are free at government hospitals and dispensaries, and 24-hour free treatments are also available at Colombo National Hospital. However, the service is considered better in private hospitals which have their own emergency services. There are plenty of hospitals and doctors with international standards in most cities and almost all of them speak English.
The diseases such as Dengue fever and Malaria are mostly seasonal and transmitted by a specific mosquito species. Because prevention is better than cure, it is advisable to protect yourself against mosquitoes to cut down the risks considerably. These mosquitoes commonly bite between dusk and dawn and long-sleeved clothing and long trousers are little help when going out at night.
Before you travel to Sri Lanka, check your polio, tetanus, typhoid, Hepatitus A, anti-malaria immunization and medication with your local GP. If you need to buy some Anti biotics, diarrhoea tablets, antiseptic cream or insect sting relief you can always get them form a local pharmacy over the counter without a prescription.
Traditional medicine (ayurveda) is an important part of the health system in Sri Lanka. Ayurveda is a health system that has been practiced in Sri Lanka and India for ages. It relies solely on natural medicine.
Drinking Water
Normally water in Sri Lanka is safe to drink. It is also advised to drink only bottled mineral water unless you are sure that the water is safe.
Best Time To Visit Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is genuinely a year-round holiday destination, although the best time to go to Sri Lanka is between December and mid-April, which is considered to be the peak season. Temperatures are fairly constant year round, with coastal regions enjoying average temperatures of 25-30°C and the highlands 15-18°C on average. If you’re travelling during the summer months (May to September) you’ll want to head towards the east coast and northern regions for dry, sunny weather, as the west and south west coasts experience rain at this time.