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Tips for First Time Visitors

Population
  • 22 Million
Capital
  • Colombo, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
Currency
  • Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR)
Official Language
  • Sinhala & Tamil
English Speaking
  • Approximately 23.8% of the Population
Religion Demography
  • 70% Buddhist, 12.5 Hindu, 10% Muslim, 7.5% Christian

Floating in tropical waters off the southern tip of India, Sri Lanka is defined by its gentle Buddhist culture, friendly people and laid-back way of life despite its troubled recent history.

A little knowledge goes a long way when it comes to having an easy trip to this Indian Ocean island. For such a small nation, Sri Lanka is hugely diverse. Surf-pounded coastlines rise to forested national parks, temple-studded plains and jungle-covered highlands – with the added perk that nowhere is that far from a beach.

Most visitors start on the coast and duck inland to tea gardens, ancient cities and national parks, but navigating Sri Lanka’s frenetic public transport system and cultural sensitivities can be confusing for new arrivals. To help you out, here are some of the things you need to know before traveling to Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka Geography