Practical info for Sri Lanka
Emergencies, embassy, entry requirements, money: the essentials before you go, with the official source and the date each piece of information was checked.
Embassy and entry requirements shown for travellers from: United Kingdom.
Emergency numbers
Official sources give different numbers for some services: each number is shown with its source.
- Policeaccording to GOV.UK, 21/09/2026 ; according to the French embassy, 29/04/2026118
- Policeaccording to GOV.UK, 21/09/2026 ; according to the French embassy, 29/04/2026 ; according to Poland's foreign ministry, 02/07/2026119
- Medical emergenciesaccording to Poland's foreign ministry, 02/07/2026118
- Medical emergenciesaccording to the French embassy, 29/04/2026119
- Medical emergenciesaccording to GOV.UK, 21/09/2026; according to the French embassy, 29/04/20261990
- Fire brigadeaccording to GOV.UK, 21/09/2026111
- Fire brigadeaccording to Poland's foreign ministry, 02/07/2026118
- Fire brigadeaccording to the French embassy, 29/04/2026119
Source: France Diplomatie, GOV.UK, French embassy, Portal das Comunidades Portuguesas, Ministerstwo Spraw Zagranicznych RP · verified on 26/10/2026
Embassy and consulates
- British High Commission ColomboEmbassy
- Address
- 389, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7, Colombo, Sri Lanka
- Consular emergency line
- To call us in an emergency or send us an online enquiry use our contact form: https://www.contact.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/posts/sri-lanka/british-high-commission-colombo
Consular emergency numbers (emergencies only): FCDO, London (24 hours): +44 20 7008 5000.
Entry requirements
The rules depend on your passport: check them here before you book, for every traveller, children included.
Official page: GOV.UK (FCDO), updated 21/09/2026 ›
Source: GOV.UK · verified on 26/10/2026
Safety and travel advice
The FCDO does not currently advise against travel to any part of this country.
Source: GOV.UK · verified on 26/10/2026
Currency and payments
Currency: Sri Lankan rupee (LKR).
The ECB does not publish a reference rate for LKR.
Source: SIX Group (ISO 4217), European Central Bank, EU Publications Office · verified on 26/10/2026
Time difference
Local time: UTC+05:30, +5 h 30 compared with London (calculated on 26/10/2026).
The clocks change in London on 28/03/2027: the difference may change that day.
Source: IANA (time zones) · verified on 26/10/2026
Driving
Traffic drives on the left.
Driving licence, according to GOV.UK (FCDO): “You need a 1949 international driving permit (IDP) and a Sri Lankan ‘recognition permit’ to drive a hire vehicle. You cannot buy an IDP outside the UK, so get one before you travel. Take your UK driving licence and your IDP along with 2 passport photos to:”
Source: France Diplomatie, GOV.UK · verified on 26/10/2026
Mobile networks
Networks listed by the eSIMs we checked: Hutch (Sirocco, Airalo); Mobitel (Sirocco, Airalo); H3G Hutchison (Sirocco); Mobitel Ltd. (Sirocco).
eSIM prices for Sri Lanka
7 days, 5 GB · prices checked on 26/10/2026
3 brands compared, not an exhaustive listWhy this ranking?
Ranked by price: for each brand, the cheapest plan that covers 7 days and 5 GB.
Not an exhaustive comparison: 3 brands out of the dozens that sell eSIMs. The list of brands compared is in our Methodology.
eSIMeter is published by Mocom SAS, which sells Sirocco: the site is funded by those sales. No other brand pays us.
Frequently asked questions
What are the emergency numbers in Sri Lanka?
Police: 118 (according to GOV.UK, 21/09/2026 ; according to the French embassy, 29/04/2026) ; Police: 119 (according to GOV.UK, 21/09/2026 ; according to the French embassy, 29/04/2026 ; according to Poland's foreign ministry, 02/07/2026) ; Medical emergencies: 118 (according to Poland's foreign ministry, 02/07/2026) ; Medical emergencies: 119 (according to the French embassy, 29/04/2026) ; Medical emergencies: 1990 (according to GOV.UK, 21/09/2026; according to the French embassy, 29/04/2026) ; Fire brigade: 111 (according to GOV.UK, 21/09/2026) ; Fire brigade: 118 (according to Poland's foreign ministry, 02/07/2026) ; Fire brigade: 119 (according to the French embassy, 29/04/2026). Official sources give different numbers for some services: each number is shown with its source.
How do I contact the embassy or consulate in Sri Lanka?
British High Commission Colombo, 389, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Consular emergency numbers (emergencies only): FCDO, London (24 hours): +44 20 7008 5000.
What are the entry requirements for Sri Lanka?
The rules depend on your passport: check them here before you book, for every traveller, children included. Official page: GOV.UK (FCDO), updated 21/09/2026.
What is the travel advice for Sri Lanka?
The FCDO does not currently advise against travel to any part of this country.
What currency is used in Sri Lanka?
Currency: Sri Lankan rupee (LKR). The ECB does not publish a reference rate for LKR.
What is the time difference in Sri Lanka?
Local time: UTC+05:30, +5 h 30 compared with London (calculated on 26/10/2026). The clocks change in London on 28/03/2027: the difference may change that day.
What should I know about driving in Sri Lanka?
Traffic drives on the left. Driving licence, according to GOV.UK (FCDO): “You need a 1949 international driving permit (IDP) and a Sri Lankan ‘recognition permit’ to drive a hire vehicle. You cannot buy an IDP outside the UK, so get one before you travel. Take your UK driving licence and your IDP along with 2 passport photos to:”
Which mobile networks operate in Sri Lanka?
Networks listed by the eSIMs we checked: Hutch (Sirocco, Airalo); Mobitel (Sirocco, Airalo); H3G Hutchison (Sirocco); Mobitel Ltd. (Sirocco).