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Sri Lanka In Style
Srilanka in style reveals the stitches of the island’s
serendipitous tapestry with insider tips from the people
that know her best.
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Classic Mini Tour
The Classic Mini Tour shows you the cultural highlights of
Sri Lanka with a visit of the Royal Cities and the
cultural triangle not neglecting the natural beauties
of this tropical island.
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Sri Lanka |
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Overview
Depending on your viewpoint, Sri Lanka’s shape resembles either a pearl or a teardrop, cast adrift in the Indian Ocean.
Those who consider this country a teardrop may do so because of its long history of troubles. The first Europeans to arrive in Sri Lanka were the Portuguese, quickly supplanted by the Dutch in the 17th century. The British acquired Sri Lanka (as Ceylon) from the Dutch in 1796, assuming full control in 1802. But once the country became a Republic in 1972, adopting a new constitution along with the Sinhala name, Sri Lanka, serious conflict arose from the Tamil minority’s (occupying the north and east parts of Sri Lanka) demands for a separate Tamil state, with terrorist activity by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam prevalent since the 1970s.
The Indian government became involved in this conflict, initially as official mediator but then, after the failure of an armistice in 1987, intervening militarily (on the government’s side). Its two-year military campaign ended with the death of over 1,000 Indian soldiers and an ignominious retreat. The assassination of Indian premier Rajiv Ghandi in 1991 was the apotheosis of the Tigers’ campaign of revenge. After that, the war entered a period of effective stalemate. Outside the Tiger-controlled areas in the north and east, the political environment was dominated by the struggle between the country’s two main political groupings – the centre-right United National Party and the People’s Alliance (a coalition of social-democratic and socialist parties).
In 1995, the UNP’s 17-year stranglehold on power was finally broken by the People’s Alliance, under Chandrikha Kumaratunga. Kumaratunga was determined to resolve the Tamil conflict and a deal between the government and the Tamil Tigers was finally concluded in early 2002. Rising levels of violence have recently put the ceasefire agreement under threat however.
Yet there is also much to champion Sri Lanka as a pearl: Indians, Portuguese, Dutch and British have all left their marks in ancient architecture, and palm-fringed beaches are never far away from mountainous greenery in this jewel of an island. Indeed, Marco Polo proclaimed that Sri Lanka was one of the best islands in the world.
General Information
Area
65,525 sq km (25,299 sq miles).
Population
19.4 million (UN estimate 2005).
Population Density
296 per sq km.
Capital
Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte (official). Population: 115,826 (2001). Colombo (commercial). Population: 2.2 million (2005). Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte is only 10km (6 miles) from Colombo.
Government
Democratic Socialist Republic since 1978. Gained independence from the UK in 1948.
Language
Sinhala, Tamil and English.
Religion
Buddhist majority (70%), with Hindu, Christian and Muslim minorities.
Time
GMT + 5.5.
Climate
Tropical climate. Upland areas are cooler and more temperate, and coastal areas are cooled by sea breezes. There are two monsoons, which occur May to July and December to January.
Required Clothing: Lightweights and rainwear.
Social Conventions
Shaking hands is the normal form of greeting. It is customary to be offered tea when visiting and it is considered impolite to refuse. Punctuality is appreciated. A small token of appreciation, such as a souvenir from home or company, is always welcomed. Informal, Western dress is suitable, except when visiting Buddhist temples, where modest clothing should be worn (eg no bare legs and uncovered heads). Visitors should be decently clothed when visiting any place of worship, and shoes and hats must be removed. Jackets and ties are not required by men in the evenings except for formal functions when lightweight suits should be worn.
Electricity
230 volts AC, 50Hz. Round three-pin plugs are usual, with bayonet lamp fittings.
Head of Government
Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake.
Head of State
President Mahinda Rajapakse since November 2005.
Passport/Visa's
Passports
Passport valid for at least six months from date of entry required by all nationals of countries referred to in the chart above.
Visas
Not required by nationals of countries referred to in the chart above, who will be issued with visas free of charge for a period of 30 days on arrival at Colombo Airport (for touristic visits only), except the following:
1. nationals of Malta and the Slovak Republic who do require a visa.
Visa Note
(a) All business visitors from countries referred to in the chart above require a visa. (b) Nationals of countries not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements (see Contact Addresses).
Types of Visa and Cost
Tourist and Business: £38 (up to three months); fee given is for UK nationals. Fees vary according to nationality; contact the consulate (or consular section at embassy or high commission); see Contact Addresses. Multiple-entry visas cost £114 (three months) or £189 (12 months).
Validity
As above. Visitors can request to extend their stay by applying to the Department of Immigration & Emigration, 23 Station Road, Colombo 3 (tel: (1) 259 7513). This is issued at the discretion of the authorities who must be satisfied that the applicant has at least US$30 per day for the stay and holds an onward or return ticket for travel.
Applications to:
Consulate (or consular section at embassy or high commission); see Contact Addresses. British nationals, travelling as tourists, may obtain a visa upon arrival, upon port of entry into Sri Lanka, for up to 30 days.
Working Days Required
At least three.
Money
Currency
Sri Lanka Rupee (LKR) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of LKR1,000, 500, 200, 100, 50, 20 and 10. Coins are in denominations of LKR10, 5, 2 and 1, and 50, 25, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents. There are also large numbers of commemorative coins in circulation.
Currency Exchange
Foreign currency must be changed only at authorised exchanges, banks and hotels, and these establishments must endorse such exchanges on the visitor’s Exchange Control D form, which is issued on arrival and must usually be returned at the time of departure.
Credit/Debit Cards and ATMs
American Express, MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted. Diners Club has more limited acceptance.
Traveller's Cheques
The rate of exchange for traveller’s cheques is better than the rate of exchange for cash. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take traveller’s cheques in US Dollars or Pounds Sterling.
Banking Hours
Mon-Sat 0900-1300. Some city banks close at 1500, whilst some even have night bank facilities.
Entertainment
Food and Drink
Standard foods are spicy and it is advised to approach curries with caution. There are many vegetables, fruits, meats and seafoods. Chinese, Continental, Indian and Japanese menus are available in Colombo. A speciality is basic curry, made with coconut milk, sliced onion, green chilli, aromatic spices such as cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon and saffron and aromatic leaves.
Things to know: Alcohol cannot be sold on poya holidays (which occur each lunar month on the day of the full moon).
National specialities:
• Hoppers is a cross between a muffin and a crumpet with a wafer-crisp edge, served with a fresh egg soft-baked on top.
• Stringhoppers are steamed circlets of rice flour, a little more delicate than noodles or spaghetti.
• Jaggery is a fudge made from the crystallised sap of the kitul palm.
• The durian fruit is considered a great delicacy.
National drinks:
• Tea is the national drink and thought to be amongst the best in the world.
• Toddy (sap of the palm tree).
• Arrack (fermented Toddy which comes in varying degrees of strength).
Tipping: Most hotels include a 10% service charge. Extra tipping is optional.
Nightlife
Some Colombo hotels have supper clubs with music for dancing. There are theatres in Colombo, cinemas showing films from the USA, ballet, concerts and theatre productions.
Shopping
Sri Lanka has several shopping malls, including Majestic City, Liberty Plaza, Crescat Boulevard, Odel Unlimited and JAIC Oberoi. Some 5-star hotels in Colombo also have shopping arcades. Special purchases include handicrafts and curios of silver, brass, bone, ceramics, wood and terracotta. Also cane baskets, straw hats, reed and coir mats and tea. Batik fabric, lace and lacquerware are also popular. Some of the masks, which are used in dance-dramas, in processions and on festival days, can be bought by tourists. The ‘18-disease’ mask shows a demon in possession of a victim; he is surrounded by 18 faces – each of which cures a specific ailment. Versions produced for the tourist market are often of a high standard. Sri Lanka is also rich in gems. Fabrics include batiks, cottons, rayons, silks and fine lace.
Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1730, Sat 0900-1300.
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