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Travelling to Sri Lanka is an exciting experience - from historic temples, misty tea plantations and sandy beaches, this country packs a lot. The scenic beauty and varied wildlife are some of the major factors that attract a lot of Indian tourists here. But even the best planned trips are not immune to lost luggage or a medical emergency. From last-minute flight woes to unexpected trip cancellations, you can protect your entire journey with travel insurance for Sri Lanka from India. It covers you and your loved ones from a range of emergencies you may face here, ensuring you don’t face any unpleasant situation alone.
No, it is not mandatory to buy travel insurance for Sri Lanka. However, if you want to have a carefree and fun time in Sri Lanka, then having a trip insurance policy for your trip will definitely ensure that.
Travel insurance for Sri Lanka offers comprehensive coverage for many non-medical and medical emergencies. Most of the travel insurance policies are easily available online and they often need no medical examinations for most travellers. Even if you have a pre-existing disease or are a senior citizen on a quest to explore the world, you can easily find various types of Sri Lanka travel insurance plans in India.
Whether you are travelling for leisure or business, you should buy a travel insurance plan for Sri Lanka because it offers protection against unpredictable expenses during your trip. It will cover a range of emergencies.
Purchasing a travel insurance Sri Lanka policy gives the following benefits:
Cover against illness, medical expenses, personal accidents, and passport loss.
Compensation for delayed or lost baggage.
Trip delay coverage.
No pre-policy check-up required.
Offers cashless medical treatment at the hospital.
Here's a quick overview of Sri Lanka to help you plan your trip better:
Official Name | Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka |
---|---|
Capital | Administrative: Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte Commercial: Colombo |
Capital | Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte |
Major International Airports | Bandaranaike International Airport (Colombo), Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (Hambantota), Jaffna International Airport |
Popular Tourist Spots | Sigiriya Rock Fortress, Galle Fort, Nuwara Eliya (Little England), Kandy (Temple of the Tooth), Bentota & Mirissa beaches, Yala National Park |
Largest City | Colombo |
Official Language | Sinhala, Tamil, English widely spoken |
Currency | Sri Lankan Rupee; 1 LKR = 0.29 INR |
Time Zone | UTC +5:30 |
Largest Hospital | National Hospital of Sri Lanka (Colombo) |
Electrical Plug Type | Type D, M, and G (230V supply, 50Hz) |
Best Time to Visit | December to April (West & South coasts, Hill country) May to September (East coast) |
Sri Lanka has speedily become a big tourist hotspot, especially for Indian travellers. Over 2 million tourists have visited Sri Lanka in 2024, and the number is growing steadily.
Indians can visit Sri Lanka for up to 30 days by submitting an ETA online. This can also be done via a third party or by contacting the Sri Lanka Overseas Mission. Make sure to contact the Sri Lankan embassy before travelling in case of any doubts.
Indian passport holders visiting Sri Lanka for holidays and business purposes, medical treatment like Yoga, Ayurvedic treatment, etc., can get Sri Lanka ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) approval before their planned visit to Sri Lanka. Once the ETA visa for Sri Lanka is obtained, you should make sure to fulfil the following requirements at the entry point in Sri Lanka:
An Indian passport with a validity of at least six months after departure.
Proof of sufficient funds to meet the expenses during their stay in Sri Lanka.
Confirmed return ticket.
Following are the types of Sri Lanka visas you can apply for:
ETA visa (Sri Lanka tourist visa) with double entry for approximately 30 days.
ETA visa (transit) with a single entry for a maximum of seven days.
ETA visa (business) with multiple entries for 30 days.
ETA visa (transit) with a single entry for a maximum of two days.
Sri Lanka visa application generally takes two business days, after which you will be notified if it was rejected or accepted.
Even though it is not mandatory to purchase a travel insurance policy when travelling to Sri Lanka, it makes sense to purchase one as it helps to take care of various unforeseen expenses and other travel-related emergencies. These are the different types of travel insurance for Sri Lanka. For examoke, If you are travelling alone or with family once or twice a year, then selecting a single-trip insurance is ideal. However, if you travel more than three times a year then choosing an annual multi-trip policy will be better for you. Almost all the holiday insurance plans cover several emergencies like personal accident, emergency expenses, loss of documents, trip cancellation, personal liability and more.
Here are the Sri Lankan High Commission and embassy in India:
Consulate/ Embassy | Address | Phone Number | |
---|---|---|---|
Sri Lanka High Commission, New Delhi | 27, Kautilya Marg, Chankya Puri, New Delhi – 110021 | Tel: +91-011-23010201 – 3 Fax: +91-011-23793604 |
slhc.newdelhi[@]mfa[.]gov.lk |
Deputy High Commission of Sri Lanka in Chennai, Tamil Nadu | Deputy High Commission of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka 56, Sterling Road, Nungambakkam Chennai, 600034, India |
0091 44 28241896 0091 44 28252612 0091 44 28241047 Fax: 0091 44 28241894/ 28254242 |
sldehico[@]md3[.]vsnl[.]net.in |
Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Mumbai | Consulate General of Sri Lanka 34, Homi Mdi Street, Mumbai – 400 001, India |
0091 22 22045861/ 22048303 Fax: 0091 22 22876132 |
slcon[@]mtnl[.]net[.]in |
Sri Lanka is a year-round destination, but you must know the island you want to visit. The best time to visit Sri Lanka is from December to April if you are planning to visit the west and south coasts along the hill country. You will find dry and sunny weather during this time.
If you want to explore the East Coast, then you should plan a trip between May and September so that the seas and skies are calm.
The country has an extensive network of roads for inland transportation. There are high-mobility and access-controlled roads with a permitted speed limit. The highways of Sri Lanka are connected to most of the local communities and bypass congested and busy towns. The rail network of Sri Lanka has main lines, up-country lines, and coastal lines. Additionally, water and air-based transportation increase transportation in the country.
Here's a quick overview of Sri Lanka to help you plan your trip better:
Location | Airport |
---|---|
Batticaloa | Batticaloa International Airport |
Colombo | Ratmalana International Airport |
Colombo | Bandaranaike International Airport |
Jaffna | Jaffna International Airport |
Hambantota | Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport |
The Sri Lanka is exceedingly rich when it comes to tourist delights and sightseeing opportunities. The top tourist spots of Sri Lanka are:
Yala National Park
Dambulla Cave Temple
Galle
Nuwara Eliya
Temple of the Tooth at Kandy
Arugam Bay
Muthurajawela Bird Sanctuary
War Cemetery
Sigiriya
Jaffna
Shopping is one of the things that a traveller should not miss out on. Therefore, we are here listing some of the best shopping places in Sri Lanka:
Mlesna Tea Centre, Colombo
Orchid House, Galle
Olanda Furniture, Galle
Barefoot, Colombo
Exotic Roots, Galle
Arcade Independence Square, Colombo
Laksala, Colombo
Rangala House Art Gallery, Kandy
Jayamali Batik Studio, Kandy
Ratnapura, Kandy, and Colombo
The cuisine of Sri Lanka is shaped by many cultural, historical, and other factors. The food of Sri Lanka is influenced by Dutch, Indonesian, and Indian cuisines. One should try the following delicacies of Sri Lankan food:
Kiri Bath and Sambola: This dish is made by cooking rice with coconut milk and is served with Sambola of Onion. Onion Sambola is a hot mix of spices, hot onions, or bananas.
Curry and Rice: It is an authentic Sri Lankan meal that contains rice with fish curry, poultry, or meat. Many other cuisines made with pulses and vegetables are also served.
Kottu: Kottu is made of paratha bread from Sri Lanka that is shredded and stir-fried with various spices and a choice of vegetarian or meaty ingredients.
Sweetmeats: Kokis, Kavum, Asmi – made of rice flour.
Pol Sambol: It is prepared with onions, grated coconut, lemon, red chilli powder, Maldives fish, and salt. It is generally eaten with rice.
The list of top hotels in Sri Lanka is as follows:
Camellia Hills, Dickoya
Kandy House, Kandy
Why House, Galle
Paradise Road Tintagel Colombo, Colombo
Shangri-La Hotel, Colombo
Fairway, Colombo
Marino Beach, Colombo
Taj Samudra, Colombo
Ramada by Wyndham, Colombo
Best Western Elyon, Colombo
Hilton Colombo Residency, Colombo
You May Also Like to Read: Sri Lanka Travel Itinerary
Some of the best things to do in Sri Lanka are:
Go for a Scenic Train Ride: The Eastern train route from Kandy to Ella is one of the best attractions of Sri Lanka.
Surf the Waves of the Indian Ocean at Hikkaduwa: As one of the best surfing places in Sri Lanka, Hikkaduwa is known for various water sports like Scuba Diving.
Take a Hiking Trip to Adam’s Peak: Hiking lovers should go to this place for hiking.
Spot Whales and Dolphins at Mirissa: A tour to dolphin and whale watching is eye candy.
Drive across the East Coast of Sri Lanka: The East Coast of Sri Lanka is one of the best self-drive routes to explore.
The top hospitals in Sri Lanka are:
If you need an estimate of medical costs in Sri Lanka, here are some costs to keep in mind:
Medical Service | Approximate Costs* |
---|---|
Inpatient bed-day (Primary hospital) | USD 100-140 |
Inpatient bed-day (Tertiary hospital) | USD 140-185 |
Outpatient visit (Primary hospital) | USD 25-35 |
Outpatient visit (Tertiary hospital) | USD 35-50 |
*Public facility, the rate of occupancy excluding diagnostics and drugs
Use Your Hands for Eating: Just like in India, you can ditch the cutlery and use your hands to eat food. However, those who do not want to use their hands can politely ask for spoons.
Respect for Buddhist Culture: Never pat or touch a Buddhist monk’s head. You should never turn your back towards the statue of Buddha. This also means that if you wish to pose with a Buddha statue, then facing Buddha is recommended, not the back.
Etiquette for Public Photography: Depending upon the location of photography, some sites require a permit. Some sites are accessible between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. Avoid taking photos of sensitive locations like Fort Colombo.
Other Social Etiquettes: PDA (Public Display of Affection), like hugging or kissing in public, is not considered good in Sri Lanka. However, it is acceptable at adult establishments and public functions.
Given its abundant attractions and well-developed cities, Sri Lanka offers a spectacular experience to tourists. However, exploring the whole city without a proper budget could burn a hole in your pockets. Here are some ways to save money while traveling to Sri Lanka:
An off-season trip to Sri Lanka is awesome, especially when one is planning to have a pocket-friendly tour.
Eating at local street joints in Sri Lanka not only adds more flavours to your trip but also saves a lot of money.
When one has information about a certain place, he/she is sure about what to do, where to stay, and what to eat. So, researching before going to Sri Lanka can save a lot of money.
Generally, half of our travel budget is spent on our accommodation. However, if the budget is a constraint for you, then staying in a budget hotel can save a lot of money.
If you need an estimate of medical costs in Sri Lanka, here are some costs to keep in mind:
Consulate/ Embassy | Address | Phone Number |
---|---|---|
High Commission of India, Colombo | 36 – 38, Galle Road, Colombo 03 | 094-11-2421605 |
High Commission of India, Kandy | 31, Rajapihilila Mawatha, P.O. Box No. 47, Kandy 20000 Central Province | 812222652 |
High Commission of India, Jaffna | Consulate General of India, 14 Maruthady Lane, Nallur, Jaffna | 00-94-21-2220504/ 505 |
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* Price shown is for a 90 day trip to Sri Lanka with 50,000 dollar coverage for an adult of age 25 years