A Sri Lankan visa is an endorsement on a passport or a similar document to facilitate the legal entry of non Sri Lankans into the country and to regulate the period of their stay and the conditions governing such stay.

Types Of Sri Lankan Visas

There are four kinds of visas which permit a person to enter and or stay in Sri Lanka.

Visit Visa

A Visit Visa is an entry permit signifying the consent of the Sri Lankan Government for the admission of a foreign national to the country. The Visa contains details of the period of time and the conditions of the stay. There are two sub-categories which come under visit visas

Tourist Visit Visa

A Tourist Visa is issued to bona-fide tourists who want to enter Sri Lanka for sightseeing, excursions, relaxation, visit relatives or yoga training for a short period of time.

Business Visit Visa

A Business Visa is issued to foreign nationals who visit Sri Lanka for business purposes for short periods of time. This visa may be issued for single, double or multiple journeys..

Department of Immigration and Emigration

“Suhurupaya”,
Sri Subhuthipura Road, Battaramulla.
Tel: +94-11-5329000 
www.immigration.gov.lk

Sri Lanka is a photographer’s delight. However, permits are required before you can take photos at certain sites. Entrance tickets to individual sites are available only from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. These tickets cover charges for photography, recording and parking.Rates are quoted in US Dollars and rupee parities are subject to fluctuation.

You are allowed to bring into the country duty free 1.5 litre of spirits, two bottles of wine, a quarter litre of toilet water, and a small quantity of perfume and souvenirs with a value not exceeding US $250. The import of personal equipment such as cameras and laptop computers is allowed but must be declared on arrival. However, personal equipment must be taken out of the country upon the visitor’s departure. The import of non-prescription drugs and pornography of any form is an offencive.

Sri Lanka Customs : www.customs.gov.lk

On leaving the country you are allowed to export up to 10kg of tea duty free.

No antiques antique. Defined as anything more than 50-years-old – rare books, palm-leaf manuscripts and anthropological material can be exported without permission from the
Director,
National Archives,
7 Reid Avenue,
Colombo -07.
Tel: +94-11 2694523/ 2696917
www.archives.gov.lk

And the

Director General,
Department of Archaeology,
Sir Marcus Fernando Mw,
Colombo
Tel : +94 11 2692840/1
Tel. +94-11-2694727, +94-11-2667155 ,
www.archaeology.gov.lk.

Purchase and export without licence of any wild animal, bird or reptile, dead or alive . Also the export of parts of animals, birds or reptiles, such as skins, horns, scales and feathers is prohibited. Occasional exports are, however, permitted exclusively for bona fide scientific purposes. It is prohibited to export of 450 plant species without special permits. The export of coral, shells or other protected marine products is also strictly prohibited.

Applications for special permission to export fauna should be made to the

Director,
Department of Wildlife Conservation,
382 , New Kandy Road,
Malabe
Tel: +9411 25060380

Foreign Currency Regulations
Visitors to Sri Lanka bringing in more than US $10,000 should declare the amount to the Customs on arrival. All unspent rupees converted from foreign currencies can be re-converted to the original currency on departure as long as encashment receipts can be produced.

Health Precautions
The health risks in Sri Lanka are different to those encountered in Europe and North America. Watch out for bowel diseases such as diarhoea and amoebic dysentery, vector borne diseases such as malaria and dengue fever, and a variety of fungal infections. Sri Lanka’s physicians, though, many of whom have trained in the West, are particularly experienced in dealing with locally occurring diseases.

Before You Go
No inoculations are compulsory unless you are coming from a yellow fever or cholera area. (Cholera is very occasionally reported in Sri Lanka, so is not considered a serious risk.) However, the following vaccinations are recommended, particularly if you plan a long trip or intend visiting remote areas:

Typhoid (monovalent), Polio, Tetanus, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Rabies
Children should, in addition, be protected against:
diphtheria, whooping cough, mumps, measles, rubella

Remember to plan well ahead with vaccinations. Allow up to six weeks to receive the full course, for some vaccinations require more than one dose, and some should not be given together.

The risk of malaria exists throughout the whole country apart from the districts of Colombo, Kalutara and Nuwara Eliya. Medication has to start one week prior to travel, continue during the trip, and finish four weeks after your return. Once again, planning is essential, as well as care to ensure the course is followed.

Foreign Currency Regulations
Health Precautions
Before You Go

WHEN YOU ARE THERE

Restrictions
Water
Sun Burn
Heatstroke
Prickly Heat
Local Health Care
Traveler's With Special Needs
Srilanka's Currency
Banks
Credit Cards
Language
Photography , Restrictions And Permits
Permits
When To Visit
What To Wear
Getting There
Public Places
Safety
Where To Stay
Drink
Time Difference
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