Planning a trip to Sri Lanka
Getting there
All international flights land at Bandaranaike International Airport at Katunayake, 30kms from Colombo. Most of the major airlines flying to and from Sri Lanka are Middle Eastern or Asian, including Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Malaysian Airlines, Royal Jordanian, Singapore Airlines, Sri Lankan Airlines and Thai Airways. Lufthansa is the main European airline.
Entry Requirements
European and American travelers receive a tourist visa when they enter Sri Lanka, which is valid for 30 days. If you want to extend this period, you’ll need to visit the Department of Immigration in Colombo: 41, Ananda Rajakaruna Mawatha, Colombo 10 (www.immigration.gov.lk; 9411/532-9000), for an extension of up to three months.
Immunizations and other health issues
The World Health Organization recommends a number of vaccinations for anyone planning on traveling to the country, including diphtheria, hepatitis A and B, polio, rabies, tetanus, typhoid, meningitis and tuberculosis. There is a malaria risk in Sri Lanka, but it occurs mainly in the north rather than central and southern tourist hot spots. Even with a low risk, it’s still advisable to take insect repellent to prevent mosquito bites (products containing DEET are particularly effective), plus covering up arms and legs after sunset and sleeping underneath mosquito nets where possible. The only required vaccination for Sri Lanka is yellow fever, but this is only for those who have visited a country in the yellow fever zone in the preceding six days before arrival.
When to Go
Climate
Colombo and low-lying coastal regions have an average temperature of 80°F (27°C), while higher altitude regions, such as Kandy, are a cooler 68°F (20°C). Sri Lanka has distinct wet and dry seasons in different parts of the country: May to August sees the arrival of monsoon rains in the southwest, which has the highest average rainfall of 157 inches (4000mm) a year. The Maha monsoon runs from October to January, bringing rain to the north and east, which have an average of 1000mm (39 inches) of rainfall annually.Calendar of Events
Listen to talks or attend workshops with world famous authors at Galle Literary Festival (www.galleliteraryfestival.com) in January. During June's full moon, pilgrims dressed in white celebrate the Buddhist festival of Poson by ascending Mount Mihintale. The following month of July sees thousands of drummers thump out a rhythm as decorated elephants are led through Kandy to mark Esala Perahera over 10 days of religious activities.