Sri Lanka packs a great deal into a compact island: Colombo, the temples of Kandy and the Cultural Triangle around Sigiriya, the tea country of Nuwara Eliya and Ella, safari parks such as Yala, and beaches from Galle and Mirissa to Arugam Bay. Coverage is good in towns and on the main roads and patchier in the hills and the parks. Sri Lanka is not part of the EU's Roam Like at Home area, and European plans usually charge a daily rate for roaming there.
Key facts for Sri Lanka
- EU roaming: not covered by Roam Like at Home
- Local networks: Mobitel (depending on the plan)
- Emergency numbers: police 119; ambulance 1990
- Embassies: in Colombo
Before you fly
Every visitor needs an ETA, an electronic travel authorisation requested online before departure. Since May 2026, the fee is waived for nationals of 40 countries, including the UK, the US and many EU member states, for stays of up to 30 days.
Colombo and getting around
Coverage is strong throughout Colombo. The PickMe and Uber apps work there and in other large towns, and they spare you from negotiating fares with tuk-tuk drivers. Traffic in the capital is slow at rush hour, so leave plenty of time for the trip to the airport.
The hill country by train
The train between Kandy and Ella, winding through tea estates and cloud forest, is one of the island's highlights. Reserved seats sell out early, so book as soon as your dates are fixed. The signal drops in places along the line, especially in tunnels and deep valleys, so download your tickets and maps before boarding.
Temples and local laws
Cover your shoulders and knees and take off your shoes at temples. Sri Lanka treats disrespect towards Buddhism seriously: visible Buddha tattoos and posing for photos with your back to a Buddha statue have led to visitors being refused entry, detained or deported.
Beaches, monsoons and national parks
The south-west monsoon, roughly from May to September, brings rough seas to the west and south coasts, while the east coast around Arugam Bay and Trincomalee is at its best; from December to February the pattern reverses. Currents can be strong, so swim where locals say it is safe. In Yala and the other national parks the signal is patchy, and wild elephants often walk along nearby roads: keep your distance and never feed them.
Paying
Cards are accepted in hotels, larger restaurants and shops, but you need rupees in cash for tuk-tuks, markets and small guesthouses.
Getting connected
A travel eSIM is installed before departure and starts with its first connection in Sri Lanka, so PickMe and your maps work from the airport. Your usual number keeps receiving texts and bank codes. Going on to India or the Maldives? An Asia plan includes India but not the Maldives, which need a plan of their own.
Sri Lankan prepaid SIMs from Dialog, Mobitel or Hutch are sold in the airport arrivals hall and in phone shops, and you need your passport to register one.
Consular protection: who to call in Sri Lanka
- 119 for the police and 1990 for the Suwa Seriya ambulance service. The tourist police answer on 011 242 1052.
- Embassies and high commissions are in Colombo. The Telcomia app shows yours, with address and phone.
- If you are an EU citizen and your country has no embassy or consulate in Sri Lanka, the embassy of any other EU country must help you on the same terms as its own nationals (Article 23 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU).
Sri Lanka travel-safety page →
Questions travellers ask about Sri Lanka
Does my EU plan work in Sri Lanka?
No. Sri Lanka is outside Roam Like at Home, so ask your operator for its daily rate.
Do I need an ETA?
Yes, every visitor does; for nationals of 40 countries it carries no fee.
Which networks does a Telcomia eSIM use in Sri Lanka?
Mobitel, with 4G where available.
What is the ambulance number?
1990, the Suwa Seriya service; for the police, call 119.
The short version
Get your ETA and install the eSIM before you fly, book the Kandy–Ella train early, respect the temple rules, check the monsoon for the coast you choose, and save 119 and 1990.
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