Here’s my advice for an enjoyable and smooth trip to Sri Lanka:
Connectivity & Getting Around
SIM Card at the Airport: The first thing you should do is buy a SIM card at the airport. Prices are generally the same as those outside, so it’s convenient to get one immediately. Package Changes: You can easily change or upgrade your package from any mobile shop or online; there are typically no extra fees. Ride-Hailing Apps: Download the Uber and PickMe apps. The airport has dedicated pick-up points for these services. Uber and PickMe rides are generally cheaper than regular airport taxis. App Availability: While you can use Uber in cities like Colombo and Galle, you won’t find it (or PickMe) in places like Ella. This is often because local taxi (tuktuk) drivers prevent Uber and PickMe drivers from taking fares in these areas. Ella Taxi Prices: Taxi prices tend to be a bit higher in hilly areas like Ella due to increased fuel consumption.
mportant Payment & Negotiation Tips
Cash for Ride-Hailing Apps:Always opt to pay with cash when using Uber or PickMe apps. Drivers strongly dislike card payments because they often have to wait days to weeks to receive their money, sometimes with extra fees. Therefore, they prefer not to accept rides paid by card. Keep cash readily available. You can exchange currency at the airport. Normal Taxis: If you’re using normal taxis, always agree on a price before the ride starts. Never begin a journey without the price being finalized.Beware of Fake Meters: Like in other countries, some taxis might have rigged meters. Pre-discussing the price is the safest approach if you can’t find an Uber or PickMe. Ask for Food Prices:Always ask for the price before you eat, especially at smaller, local eateries. Credit/Debit Card Surcharges:Make sure to check if there’s a hefty 20% extra fee for paying with a credit/debit card before you make a purchase. In Trouble? If you encounter any issues, read the last section of this post for immediate assistance.
Understanding Authentic Sri Lankan Food Culture
Avoid Vlogger-Recommended Places: Don’t go to places that vloggers show to eat “authentic” Sri Lankan foods. I’ve seen many YouTubers go to unhygienic food places, particularly in areas like Pettah. Frankly, any Sri Lankan with a sane mind would not eat from those places. No Strong “Eat Out” Culture: Sri Lanka doesn’t traditionally have an “eat out” culture in the same way as some other countries. How We Eat Rice and Curries:
- Sri Lankan curries are made to be combined with a generous amount of rice and a few other curries. We never eat curries alone.
- YouTubers often find curries spicy because they eat them in isolation. We typically mix about five different curries (dishes) with a spoonful of rice. For example, a spoonful of boiled rice might be combined with 1/5 dhal (lentil) curry, 1/6 a side dish like potato deviled (stir-fried potato with chili flakes and onions), 1/8 a sour curry like mango or ambarella, plus a small piece of papadam (a cracker-like item).
- The proportions of the mix with rice depend on the side dishes (curries) and are adjusted while eating.
- We never mix the whole plate of rice and curries together. We only mix enough rice and curries for a single bite.
- The taste largely depends on getting the correct proportions, which is crucial for a good Sri Lankan rice and curry experience. The same principle applies to string hoppers.
- This is the real reason Sri Lankans traditionally eat with their right hand’s fingertips – to skillfully select the correct proportions when mixing the rice and curries for each bite.
Where to Find Good Food:
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- Avoid roadside shops and places near main bus or train stations if you’re looking for good Sri Lankan food. These shops typically target people who are just passing through and in a hurry.
- Try to find places that cater to office workers in the area. These establishments offer tasty and hygienic food.
- “Hela Bojun” is a government-run restaurant chain found all over Sri Lanka that offers good, authentic, and hygienic rice and curry.
- Many other places in Sri Lanka sell good rice and curries; while they might be a bit more expensive than roadside shops, they are generally tastier and more hygienic. Just Google “best rice and curry shops Sri Lanka” while you are there.
- Why Locals Avoid Certain Places: When Sri Lankans want to eat out, they usually go to at least slightly fancy restaurants. Foreigners often visit roadside restaurants that Sri Lankans only frequent when there are no other options – for instance, when visiting a city or town for the day, with no time to find better places, and just needing to fill their stomach quickly.
- Places catering to office workers typically offer cheap (or more expensive, selectable options), tasty, and hygienic food because they rely on return customers, unlike the roadside restaurants frequented by foreign vloggers.
- These office worker-catered places are often located on side roads, with limited or no seating. Workers often send someone from the office at lunchtime to buy food or order via Uber/PickMe.
- Many foreign vloggers go to Pettah to eat, but every single Sri Lankan will tell you it’s one of the most unhygienic places to eat in the country. It’s akin to vlogging about slums in India. They choose Pettah because it’s the most unhygienic and busiest market in Sri Lanka, near the main harbor, where you can buy almost anything wholesale.
Driving & Safety on Main Roads
Buses are a Hazard: When driving or taking public transport on main roads (like Colombo to Kandy, Kandy to Sigiriya, Colombo to Galle, Galle to Hambantota), be extremely careful of buses. They drive very aggressively. A quick Google search for “Don’t Go Near Sri Lankan Buses” will show you what to expect. Traffic Times: If you want to avoid getting stuck in traffic near major cities like Colombo or Kandy, avoid these times:
- School times: 7:00-7:30 AM and 1:00-2:00 PM
- Normal office times: 7:00-9:00 AM and 4:00-6:00 PM
- In places like Ella, there’s generally no traffic
Beaches, Nature & Local Awareness
- Nilaveli Beach: Visit Nilaveli beach, just 13 km from Trincomalee. It’s called “Nilaveli” (blue sand) because of its shallow, blue-colored water.
- Swimming Safety: Do not swim in areas without lifeguards. Don’t assume waters are shallow and safe. Always ask locals before swimming; they usually know the safest spots. Nilaveli and the East Coast generally have some of the highest rip currents in Sri Lanka.
- Trincomalee Deer: In Trincomalee, you’ll see hundreds of free-roaming deer throughout the town. Do not feed them cooked food; only offer vegetables. There are signs around Trincomalee about deer feeding.
- Tanks vs. Lakes: There are only two small lake-like places in Sri Lanka near beaches. All other large bodies of water you see are man-made tanks and reservoirs. Some tanks and reservoirs are even built inside national parks specifically for animals.
- Swimming in Tanks: Always ask locals before swimming in tanks (which look like lakes). Some areas have sticky mud where you can get stuck, and there can sometimes be crocodiles. Locals in the area will know the safe spots.
Your Safety & Assistance
Tourist Safety is Paramount: Any incident involving a tourist (regardless of whether you are brown or white) is taken very seriously in Sri Lanka. Police Assistance: The police take very fast action to help tourists. If police don’t respond quickly when a tourist is in trouble, Sri Lankan social media and mainstream media will create a significant fuss, with even TV stations reporting on such incidents. This ensures police act very swiftly. Faster Response for Tourists: As a foreign tourist (whether Indian or any other nationality), you will likely get a faster response from the police and law enforcement if you are in trouble than a regular Sri Lankan. Emergency Contact: In Sri Lanka, if you are in trouble, call the police or the tourist help hotline; they will assist you immediately. Southern Province Safety: In the Down South region, any sane robber would never target a tourist (brown or white). People in these areas would likely physically intervene or even seriously injure a robber before the police arrive. The locals depend on their area’s reputation as a safe place to travel alone and will not hesitate to protect that reputation.