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Cars 4 Rental Information on Sri Lanka

General

Area: 65,525 sq km (25,299 sq miles).

Population: 16,864,544 (official estimate 2001).

Population Density: 286 per sq km.

Capital: Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte (official); Colombo (commercial). Population: 2,234,289 (2001). Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte is only 10km (6 miles) from Colombo.

GEOGRAPHY: Sri Lanka is an island off the southeast coast of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is separated from India by the Indian Ocean, in which lies the chain of islands called Adam’s Bridge. Sri Lanka has an irregular surface with low-lying coastal plains running inland from the northern and eastern shores. The central and southern areas slope into hills and mountains. The highest peak is Pidurutalagala (2524m/8281ft).

Government: Democratic Socialist Republic since 1978. Gained independence from the UK in 1948. Head of State: President Chandrika Kumaratunga since 1994. Head of Government: Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe since 2001.

Language: Sinhala, Tamil and English.

Religion: Buddhist majority, with Hindu, Christian and Muslim minorities.

Time: GMT + 6.

Electricity: 230/240 volts AC, 50Hz. Round three-pin plugs are usual, with bayonet lamp fittings.

Communications:

Telephone

IDD facilities are available to the principal cities. Country code: 94. Outgoing international code: 00. Phone cards are available at post offices and shops.

Mobile telephone

GSM 900 network. Network operators include Celltel Infiniti (website: www.celltel.lk), Dialog GSM (website: www.dialog.lk) and Lanka Cellular Services (Pte) Ltd.

Fax

The General Post Office in Colombo (address below) provides a service. Many hotels also have facilities.

Internet

Internet cafes provide public access to Internet and e-mail services. ISPs include Pan Lanka Networking PL (website: www.panlanka.net).

Telegram

These can be sent from all post offices.

Post

Airmail to Europe takes up to 1 week. The main post office in Colombo is opposite the President’s house: General Post Office, Janadhipathi Mawatha, Colombo 1.

Press

Daily newspapers published in English include the Daily News, The Island and The Observer.

Radio: BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online.

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Money

Currency: Sri Lanka Rupee (SLRe, singular; SLRs, plural) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of SLRs1000, 500, 200, 100, 50, 20 and 10. Coins are in denominations of SLRs10, 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 time of departure.

Credit & debit cards: American Express, MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted. Diners Club has more limited acceptance. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available.

Travellers cheques: The rate of exchange for travellers cheques is better than the rate of exchange for cash. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take travellers cheques in US Dollars or Pounds Sterling.

Currency restrictions: The import and export of local currency is limited to SLRs1000. The import of notes from India and Pakistan is not allowed, otherwise the import of foreign currency is not restricted but all amounts over US$5000 are subject to declaration. Export of foreign currency is limited to the amount declared on import.

Exchange rate indicators
The following figures are included as a guide to the movements of the Sri Lanka Rupee against Sterling and the US Dollar:

Date Aug ’03 Nov ’03 Feb ’04 May ’04
£1.00= 154.90 160.80 177.07 175.93
$1.00= 97.10 94.76 97.28 98.50

Banking hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1500.

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Health

Special Precautions Certificate Required
Yellow Fever No 1
Cholera Yes 2
Typhoid and Polio 3 N/A
Malaria 4 N/A

1: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over 1 year of age arriving within 6 days from infected areas.

2: Following WHO guidelines issued in 1973, a cholera vaccination certificate is not a condition of entry to Sri Lanka. However, cholera is a serious risk in this country and precautions are essential. Up-to-date advice should be sought before deciding whether these precautions should include vaccination as medical opinion is divided over its effectiveness; see the Health appendix.

3: Typhoid occurs in rural areas.

4: Malaria risk, predominantly in the benign vivax form, exists throughout the year in the districts of Amparai, Anuradhapura, Badulla, Batticaloa, Hambantota, Jaffna, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Mannar, Matale, Matara, Moneragala, Polonnaruwa, Puttalam, Ratnapura, Trincomalee and Vavuniya. The malignant falciparum strain is also present and is reported to be highly resistant to chloroquine.

Food & drink: All water should be regarded as being potentially contaminated. Water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should have first been boiled or otherwise sterilised. Bottled water and a variety of mineral waters are available at most hotels. Unpasteurised milk should be boiled. Powdered or tinned milk is available and is advised, but make sure that it is reconstituted with pure water. Pasteurised and sterilised milk is available in some hotels and shops. Avoid dairy products made with unboiled milk. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish, preferably served hot. Pork, salad and mayonnaise may carry increased risk. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled.

Other risks: Hepatitis A, B and E are present and precautions should be taken. Dengue fever occurs.
Rabies is present. For those at high risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered. If you are bitten, seek medical advice without delay. For more information, consult the Health appendix.

Health care: Treatment is free at government hospitals and dispensaries; 24-hour treatment is available at Colombo General Hospital. Some hotels also have doctors.

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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.

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Passport

Passport Required Visa Required Return Ticket Required
British Yes 1 Yes
Australian Yes 1 Yes
Canadian Yes 1 Yes
USA Yes 1 Yes
OtherEU Yes 1 Yes
Japanese Yes 1 Yes

PASSPORTS: Passport valid for at least 6 months from date of entry required by all.

VISAS: Required by all except nationals of the following countries, who will be issued with visas free of charge for a period of 30 days on arrival at Colombo Airport (for touristic visits only):
(a) 1. nationals of those countries mentioned in the chart above;
(b) nationals of Albania, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, China (PR, including Hong Kong), Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Korea (Rep), Kuwait, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malaysia, Maldives, Montenegro, Nepal, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, The Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Serbia & Montenegro, Singapore, Slovenia, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey and United Arab Emirates;
(c) nationals of CIS countries.

Note: All business visitors require a visa.

Types of visa and cost: Tourist and Business: £38 (up to 3 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 section.

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; fax: (1) 259 7511). 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.

Application to: Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy or High Commission); see Contact Addresses section.

Application requirements: (a) Valid passport. (b) Completed application form. (c) Two passport-size photos signed on the back by applicant. (d) Visa fee, payable by cash or postal order. (e) Self-addressed envelope, with appropriate cost of stamps necessary for returning passport by registered post. (f) Proof of sufficient funds for duration of stay. (g) Return or onward ticket. Business: (a)-(g) and, (h) A letter from the company or organisation recommending the issue of visa and giving details of the status of the applicant, nature of business, duration of stay, sufficient funds and details of the party, if available in Sri Lanka, with whom the business is to be conducted, along with a letter from that company/organisation in Sri Lanka.

Working days required: At least 3.

Temporary residence: Enquire at Embassy or High Commission.

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