Sri Lanka – Overview

• The ETA currently is free of charge and you should apply online via the official Sri Lanka government site http://eta.gov.lk/

• Passport validity** Your passport should be valid for a minimum period of 6 months from the date of entry to Sri Lanka.** UK Emergency Travel Documents.**UK Emergency Travel Documents are accepted for entry, airside transit and exit from Sri Lanka.

• Before you go:

Contact your GP around 8 weeks before your trip to check whether you need any vaccinations or other preventive measures. The doctors will take into account factors such as past vaccination history, the length of your trip, activities you may be undertaking and underlying medical conditions, such as pregnancy.

• Health Insurance
• Even if you are fit and healthy, do not travel without health insurance: accidents do happen. A travel or health insurance policy is essential. You may require extra cover for adventure activities, such as scuba diving. If your normal health insurance does not cover you for medical expenses abroad, get extra insurance. If you are uninsured, emergency evacuation is expensive, and bills of more than US$100,000 are not uncommon.
• Dengue fever This mosquito-borne disease is becomingly increasingly problematic across Asia. As there is no vaccine available, it can only be prevented by avoiding mosquito bites at all times. Symptoms include high fever, severe headache and body ache and sometimes a rash and diarrhoea. Treatment is rest and paracetamol – do not take aspirin or ibuprofen as it increases the likelihood of haemorrhaging. Make sure you see a doctor to be diagnosed and monitored.
• For more travel information see this website: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/sri-lanka

+++ the best time to visit

++ good time to visit

+ good time with some rain expected

Month by month weather in Sri Lanka:

– January to March

The weather from January to March is a beautiful and pleasant. An ideal time to be in the central hills or southwest Sri Lanka, as days are sunny and dry and the sea is usually calm. Famous Galle Literary Festival takes place annually in late January or early February. This is also the best time to spot whales, especially Blue and Sperm whales. Sri Lanka is one of the best places in the world to spot Blue Whales with 95% chances during March.

•  April

April is hot month that starts the southwest monsoon, so the best place to be is in the north of the country, Cultural Triangle or on the eastern coast. The south remains warm and sunny, but showers increase and the seas aren’t so calm. The 14th April is Sinhalese and Tamil New Year. You still can see whales in the south but the best place is on the East coast Trinkomalee. If you touring around the island and want to spend some time on the beach then the East will be most pleasant.

– May-June

While humid and hot South is still possible to visit, the North and East is much more pleasant and  central hills are cooler but experience showers through May and June. In May, the Vesak Poya celebrates Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and death.

– July – September

As the school holidays begin, it’s a good time to explore the cultural cities and wildlife of the north as well as the beautiful stretches of beach on the east coast. It’s important to plan in advance to ensure we can secure your first choice accommodation.

Kandy Perahera (July or August): This is a fun spectacle, with colourful processions and traditional dancing taking over the city to celebrate the famous Sacred Tooth Relic of Buddha, housed at the Sri Dalada Maligawa.

Between August and October you will have a chance to experience Elephant Gathering at Minneriya National Park – one of the World’s best wildlife spectaculars.

•  October – November

October and November continue to be warm and sunny all across Sri Lanka with rising humidity. It’s a period between two monsoons but the weather is much less predictable.  Showers can occur frequently, however, it really does vary from year to year, so it’s impossible to forecast.

•  December

The south and west is pleasantly warm and dry, whilst the eastern coast and north starts to experience more rain. It’s important to plan well in advance as Christmas and New Year are very popular times to travel.