Asia · Southern Asia

Sri Lanka

Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

Flag of Sri Lanka
Local Time
--:--:--
UTC+05:30
🏛️ Capital
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
👥 Population
21,763,170
📐 Area
65,610 km²
💱 Currency
Sri Lankan rupee (Rs රු)
🗣️ Languages
Sinhala, Tamil
📞 Calling Code
+94
🕐 Time Zones
UTC+05:30
🌐 Region
Asia / Southern Asia

About Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is a teardrop-shaped island of extraordinary beauty floating in the Indian Ocean just off the southern tip of India, and it packs more variety into its compact landmass than countries many times its size. Ancient cities with thousand-year-old temples, emerald tea plantations cascading down misty hillsides, wildlife-rich national parks, pristine beaches lapped by warm turquoise water, and a cuisine of explosive flavour — Sri Lanka offers an almost overwhelming abundance of experiences within easy reach of one another.

The island holds eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, an impressive tally for a country of 65,000 square kilometres. The Cultural Triangle in the north-central plains contains three of the world's most impressive ancient capitals: Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, and the rock fortress of Sigiriya, whose mirror-wall murals and lion-pawed summit have awed visitors for centuries. The hill country of Nuwara Eliya and Ella offers misty mountain scenery, colonial tea bungalows, and the famous Nine Arch Bridge framed in lush greenery. The south coast from Mirissa to Tangalle draws surfers, whale watchers, and beach lovers.

Sri Lanka has recovered strongly from the 2004 tsunami, a three-decade civil war that ended in 2009, and an economic crisis in 2022, and the warmth of its Sinhalese, Tamil, and Muslim communities remains one of the island's greatest assets. Travelling Sri Lanka means constantly encountering kindness — the spontaneous invitation to a family home, the monk who stops to share a story, the driver who becomes a friend. This is a place that gets under your skin and keeps calling you back.

History & Background

Sri Lanka's recorded history stretches back over two millennia, beginning with the arrival of Vijaya — the legendary Sinhalese ancestor — from northern India around the fifth century BCE. The great ancient kingdoms of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa built sophisticated hydraulic civilisations, irrigating the dry north-central plains with an extraordinary network of reservoirs and canals that supported millions. Buddhism arrived from India in the third century BCE, brought by Mahinda, son of the emperor Ashoka, and the island became a great centre of Theravada Buddhist scholarship and art.

European contact began with the Portuguese arrival in 1505, followed by the Dutch and then the British, who gained control of the entire island in 1815 when the last Kandyan king was deposed. British Ceylon introduced plantation agriculture — tea, rubber, and coconut — and brought Tamil labourers from South India to work the hill country estates, planting the seeds of ethnic tension that would eventually erupt. Sri Lanka gained independence on February 4, 1948. A civil war between the government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) lasted from 1983 to 2009, ending with a military victory that remains deeply contested. The country has since focused on reconciliation and economic development.

Culture & People

Sri Lankan culture is a rich interweaving of Sinhalese, Tamil, Moor (Muslim), Burgher, and other communities, each with their own traditions, languages, and festivals. The Sinhalese majority, predominantly Buddhist, have shaped the island's art, architecture, and calendar of religious observances for over two thousand years. Theravada Buddhism is not merely a religion in Sri Lanka but a living culture — temples are community centres, monks are respected counsellors, and Poya (full moon) days are national holidays on which alcohol cannot be sold legally.

Tamil culture, concentrated in the north and east as well as the hill country, brings its own vibrant traditions — from the elaborate Kovil temple architecture dedicated to Hindu deities to the fire-walking ceremonies and Thaipongal harvest festival. The Islamic community, the Sri Lanka Moors, traces its ancestry to Arab traders and has contributed significantly to the island's cuisine, commerce, and culture. Sri Lanka's colonial history under the Portuguese, Dutch, and British has left its mark in Gothic-spired churches, Dutch forts, and a legal system, architecture, and cricket culture that are unmistakably influenced by empire.

Food & Cuisine

Sri Lankan cuisine is one of the most exciting and underrated in Asia, built on a foundation of coconut, spices, and the freshest possible seafood and vegetables. Rice and curry is not merely the national dish but a way of life — not a single curry but a constellation of three to six dishes served simultaneously, encompassing dhal, fish or chicken, three vegetable preparations, papadum, and pickled coconut sambol. The combination is deeply satisfying and endlessly variable by region, season, and household.

Breakfast culture is equally compelling: hoppers (thin, bowl-shaped rice flour and coconut milk crepes), string hoppers (steamed noodle nests), and roti with coconut sambol are morning staples enjoyed with tea. Kottu roti — chopped roti stir-fried with egg, vegetables, and spices on a hot iron plate with a rhythmic clatter audible down the street — is Sri Lanka's great street food. Seafood along the coast is exceptional: crab curry in Negombo, grilled barracuda in Arugam Bay, and fresh prawn preparations throughout. Ceylon tea, grown in the misty highlands of Nuwara Eliya, is the drink of choice for most of the day.

Top Attractions

  • Sigiriya Rock Fortress — A fifth-century royal citadel rising 200 metres from the jungle floor, with ancient frescoes of celestial maidens, mirror-wall inscriptions, and sweeping views from the summit.
  • Temple of the Tooth Relic, Kandy — Sri Lanka's most sacred Buddhist site, housing what is believed to be a tooth of the Buddha, surrounded by a moat-ringed lake in the country's cultural capital.
  • Yala National Park — The best place in Sri Lanka for wildlife watching, with the world's highest density of wild leopards, along with elephants, sloth bears, and abundant birdlife.
  • Galle Fort — A beautifully preserved Dutch colonial fortified city on the southern coast, filled with boutique hotels, art galleries, and cafes within seventeenth-century ramparts.
  • Adam's Peak (Sri Pada) — A sacred pilgrimage mountain climbed by Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, and Christians alike, with a 5,500-step night climb rewarded by a spectacular sunrise view.
  • Anuradhapura — The first great capital of ancient Sri Lanka, with colossal dagoba stupas, sacred Bodhi tree (grown from a cutting of the Buddha's original enlightenment tree), and remarkable ruins spread across a vast plain.

Practical Travel Tips

  • Apply for an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) online before you travel at eta.gov.lk; it is straightforward and saves time at the airport.
  • Hiring a tuk-tuk driver for multi-day trips in the Cultural Triangle is often the best way to visit sites; negotiate a daily rate that includes all driving and agree on stops in advance.
  • Book Sigiriya Lion Rock tickets online in advance; the site has limited daily visitor numbers and sells out on peak days, and the on-site price for foreigners is significantly higher.
  • Dress modestly when visiting temples and sacred sites — shoulders and knees must be covered, and shoes must be removed; carry a light sarong for quick covering.
  • Negotiate tuk-tuk fares before getting in, or insist on the meter in Colombo; in tourist areas, first-quoted prices can be three times the reasonable rate.
  • The Kandy to Ella train journey is one of the most scenic rail trips in the world; book in advance for the observation car or get on early to secure a window seat.
  • Drink bottled or filtered water; tap water is not reliably safe for travellers' stomachs outside top-end hotels.

Visa Overview

Most foreign nationals require an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to enter Sri Lanka, which must be obtained online at eta.gov.lk before departure. The standard tourist ETA costs USD 35–50 and allows a 30-day stay, extendable to 90 days. Citizens of Singapore and the Maldives are currently exempt from the ETA fee. The ETA process is straightforward: complete the online form, pay by credit card, and receive your authorisation by email. Ensure your passport has at least six months validity beyond your planned departure date. The ETA is not a guaranteed entry; immigration officers retain discretion.

Getting Around

Sri Lanka is compact and relatively easy to navigate. The train network is slow but scenic and cheap, particularly for the Cultural Triangle and hill country routes — the Colombo to Kandy and Kandy to Ella journeys are among the world's most beautiful rail trips. Intercity buses are extensive and very affordable. Tuk-tuks handle short urban and inter-town journeys. For flexibility across multiple destinations, hiring a car and driver for a multi-day circuit is popular, comfortable, and surprisingly affordable when split between two or more travellers. Colombo's traffic is notorious; allow plenty of extra time for city journeys.

Safety Notes

Sri Lanka is generally a safe destination for tourists, with low violent crime rates. Ocean swimming can be dangerous due to strong rip currents; always swim at patrolled beaches and heed local advice. Sunstroke and dehydration are real risks in the Cultural Triangle heat; carry water and use sunscreen. Some tuk-tuk and taxi drivers attempt overcharging or commission-based detours to shops; be firm but polite about your intended route. Landmines remain a residual issue in some former conflict zones in the far north; stick to established paths. Medical facilities in Colombo are good; rural areas have limited care.

Live Exchange Rates

Current exchange rates for currencies used in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lankan rupee (LKR) Rs රු
Updated: 2026-10-06
⌕
Currency CodeRate
1INCH 0.028678
AAVE 0.000017
ADA 0.011251
AED 0.011134
AFN 0.195891
AKT 0.003962
ALGO 0.023607
ALL 0.248685
AMD 1.096850
AMP 4.728258
ANG 0.005452
AOA 2.777207
APE 0.018923
APT 0.003693
AR 0.000673
ARB 0.014872
ARS 4.608164
ATOM 0.001665
ATS 0.037200
AUD 0.004351
AVAX 0.000267
AWG 0.005427
AXS 0.002315
AZM 25.771023
AZN 0.005154
BAKE 11.812065
BAM 0.005287
BAT 0.028743
BBD 0.006064
BCH 0.000010
BDT 0.372704
BEF 0.109055
BGN 0.005287
BHD 0.001140
BIF 9.108937
BMD 0.003032
BNB 0.000004
BND 0.003879
BOB 0.036370
BRL 0.015155
BSD 0.003032
BSV 0.000152
BSW 7.367820
BTC 0.000000
BTCB 0.043393
BTG 0.004596
BTN 0.292324
BTT 8,155.189307
BUSD 0.003031
BWP 0.041728
BYN 0.009249
BYR 59.432355
BZD 0.006097
CAD 0.004326
CAKE 0.001240
CDF 7.006578
CELO 0.029153
CFX 0.055254
CHF 0.002522
CHZ 0.181248
CLP 2.950072
CNH 0.020323
CNY 0.020329
COMP 0.000124
COP 9.697773
CRC 1.387332
CRO 0.044647
CRV 0.008224
CSPR 1.188583
CUC 0.003032
CUP 0.072624
CVE 0.298106
CVX 0.001370
CYP 0.001582
CZK 0.066136
DAI 0.003033
DASH 0.000053
DCR 0.000164
DEM 0.005287
DFI 3.317296
DJF 0.539368
DKK 0.020205
DOGE 0.031975
DOP 0.181702
DOT 0.002450
DYDX 0.020751
DZD 0.407560
EEK 0.042299
EGLD 0.000678
EGP 0.158954
ENJ 0.091583
EOS 0.029835
ERN 0.045478
ESP 0.449810
ETB 0.493165
ETC 0.000342
ETH 0.000001
EUR 0.002703
EURC 0.002703
FEI 0.003033
FIL 0.002540
FIM 0.016074
FJD 0.006822
FKP 0.002294
FLOW 0.095824
FLR 0.420616
FRAX 0.003063
FRF 0.017733
FTT 0.011737
GALA 1.251362
GBP 0.002294
GEL 0.007869
GGP 0.002294
GHC 356.443411
GHS 0.035644
GIP 0.002294
GMD 0.224390
GMX 0.000345
GNF 26.656479
GNO 0.000025
GRD 0.921189
GRT 0.104125
GT 0.000271
GTQ 0.023137
GUSD 0.003038
GYD 0.632896
HBAR 0.030117
HKD 0.023792
HNL 0.081295
HNT 0.005843
HOT 6.620328
HRK 0.020369
HT 0.083124
HTG 0.396177
HUF 0.993108
ICP 0.000870
IDR 54.316204
IEP 0.002129
ILS 0.009272
IMP 0.002294
IMX 0.016535
INJ 0.000400
INR 0.292324
IQD 3.963646
IRR 5,452.850347
ISK 0.370182
ITL 5.234541
JEP 0.002294
JMD 0.479776
JOD 0.002150
JPY 0.479369
KAS 0.070671
KAVA 0.043734
KCS 0.000399
KDA 0.310539
KES 0.393560
KGS 0.265161
KHR 12.282313
KLAY 0.072796
KMF 1.329993
KNC 0.021167
KPW 2.729038
KRW 4.070141
KSM 0.000592
KWD 0.000937
KYD 0.002520
KZT 1.380334
LAK 68.030718
LBP 273.419561
LDO 0.006619
LEO 0.000341
LINK 0.000219
LRC 0.295305
LRD 0.517381
LSL 0.050477
LTC 0.000044
LTL 0.009334
LUF 0.109055
LUNA 0.059371
LUNC 57.338976
LVL 0.001900
LYD 0.019453
MAD 0.030260
MANA 0.029318
MBX 0.102511
MDL 0.054337
MGA 13.426346
MGF 67.131730
MINA 0.022503
MKD 0.166332
MKR 0.000002
MMK 6.364369
MNT 10.900010
MOP 0.024506
MRO 1.213858
MRU 0.121386
MTL 0.001161
MUR 0.143716
MVR 0.046871
MWK 5.247604
MXN 0.054801
MXV 0.006230
MYR 0.012387
MZM 193.520286
MZN 0.193520
NAD 0.050477
NEAR 0.000580
NEO 0.001196
NEXO 0.003565
NFT 12,705.436670
NGN 4.008233
NIO 0.111460
NLG 0.005958
NOK 0.029099
NPR 0.467938
NZD 0.005417
OKB 0.000023
OMR 0.001167
ONE 0.020700
OP 0.022554
ORDI 0.000666
PAB 0.003032
PAXG 0.000001
PEN 0.010439
PEPE 701.031286
PGK 0.013659
PHP 0.190540
PI 0.034732
PKR 0.838306
PLN 0.011843
POL 0.027725
PTE 0.541986
PYG 17.711997
QAR 0.011036
QNT 0.000012
QTUM 0.003093
ROL 144.506945
RON 0.014451
RPL 0.001586
RSD 0.317528
RUB 0.257221
RUNE 0.003905
RVN 1.235711
RWF 4.468849
SAND 0.046106
SAR 0.011369
SBD 0.024463
SCR 0.042942
SDD 181.965379
SDG 1.819654
SEK 0.030454
SGD 0.003879
SHIB 517.931525
SHP 0.002294
SIT 0.647846
SKK 0.081443
SLE 0.069899
SLL 69.898818
SNX 0.012109
SOL 0.000025
SOS 1.724975
SPL 0.000505
SRD 0.114318
SRG 114.318139
SSP 17.362263
STD 66.703034
STN 0.066703
STX 0.008091
SUI 0.002540
SVC 0.026529
SYP 39.425484
SZL 0.050477
THB 0.102051
THETA 0.013093
TJS 0.027904
TMM 53.199422
TMT 0.010640
TND 0.009074
TOP 0.007302
TRL 149,092.697524
TRX 0.009022
TRY 0.149093
TTD 0.020528
TUSD 0.003034
TVD 0.004351
TWD 0.096358
TWT 0.005311
TZS 7.999178
UAH 0.136552
UGX 12.188452
UNI 0.000342
USD 0.003032
USDC 0.003033
USDD 0.003034
USDP 0.003050
USDT 0.003033
UYU 0.122475
UZS 35.663894
VAL 5.234541
VEB 263,990,057.752858
VED 2.639901
VEF 263,990.057753
VES 2.639901
VET 0.347425
VND 78.813887
VUV 0.364464
WAVES 0.010163
WEMIX 0.015832
WOO 0.221491
WST 0.008438
XAF 1.773324
XAG 0.000050
XAU 0.000001
XAUT 0.000001
XBT 0.000000
XCD 0.008207
XCG 0.005452
XCH 0.001937
XDC 0.090220
XDR 0.002241
XEC 380.196511
XEM 4.829092
XLM 0.014048
XMR 0.000005
XOF 1.773324
XPD 0.000003
XPF 0.322603
XPT 0.000002
XRP 0.002018
XTZ 0.009074
YER 0.716115
ZAR 0.050477
ZEC 0.000002
ZIL 0.830850
ZMK 59.940609
ZMW 0.059941
ZWD 1.097224
ZWG 0.081167
ZWL 202.814158

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Cities in Sri Lanka 472
Browse all cities and towns
Adhikarigama Agalawatta Agarapathana Ahangama Ahungalla Akkaraipattu Akkarayan Akuressa Alawwa Aluthgama Ambalamgoda Ambalangoda Ambalantota Ambanpola Ampara Amparai Anamaduwa Andigama Angoda Angunukolapelessa Ankumbura Anuradhapura Anuradhapuraya Aralaganwila Aranayake Arayampathy Ariyalai Atchuvely Athurugiriya Avissawella Ayagama Badalkumbura Badulla Badulla Baduraliya Bakamuna Balangoda Balapitiya Ballaketuwa Bamunaakotuwa Bandaragama Bandarawela Bandarawela Barigama Battaramulla Battaramulla Batticaloa Beliatta Bentota Beruwala Beruwala Bibile Bingiriya Bogahakumbura Bogawantalawa Bokkawala Boralanda Boralesgamuwa Boralesgamuwa Bowatta Bulathkohupitiya Bulathsinhala Bulnewa Buttala Chankanai Chavakachcheri Chavakachcheri Chenkalady Chilaw Chunnakam Colombo Colombo Daluguma Dambadeniya Dambulla Dambulla Dankotuwa Daulagala Dehiattakandiya Dehiowita Dehiwala Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia Deiyandara Delgoda Delkanda Deltota Deniyaya Deraniyagala Dharga Town Dickoya Digana Dikwella Divulapitiya Diyabeduma Diyatalawa Dolosbage Dondra Dungalpitiya Eheliyagoda Ekala Elephant Pass Ella Elpitiya Embilipitiya Eppawala Eravur Etampitiya Galagedara Galapitamada Galenbindunuwewa Galewela Galgamuwa Galla Galle Galmune Galnewa Gampaha Gampaha Gampola Ganemulla Ginigathhena Girandurukotte Giritale Giriulla Godakawela Gomarankadawala Gonagolla Gothatuwa Habarana Hakmana Halawata Haldummulla Hali-Ela Hambantota Hanguranketha Hanwella Haputale Haputhale Hasalaka Hatharaliyadda Hatton Hedeniya Hemmathagama Hendala Hettipola Hettipola Hikkaduwa Hingurakgoda Hingurana Hiripitiya Homagama Homagama Horana Horana Horowpotana Hungama Hunnasgiriya Ibbagamuwa Imaduwa Induruwa Ingiriya Ja-ela Jaela Jaffna Jayawardanapura Kadawatha Kadugannawa Kaduruwela Kaduwela Kahatagasdigiliya Kahawatta Kaithady Kalawana Kalmunai Kalubowitiyana Kalutara Kalutara Kaluwanchikudy Kamburupitiya Kanakarayankulam Kandaketiya Kandana Kandana Kandy Kankesanturai Kantale Kapungoda Karainagar Karaitivu Karandeniya Karawanella Karawita Karuwalagaswewa Katana Katankudi Kataragama Katugasthota Katukurunda Katunayaka Katunayake Katupotha Katuwana Kayts Kebitigollewa Kegalla Kegalle Kekirawa Kelaniya Kelaniya Kesbewa Keselwatta Kilinochchi Kilinochchi Kiribathgoda Kiriella Kirinda Kirindiwela Kithulgala Kobeigane Kochchikade Kodikamam Kolonnawa Kolonnawa Kosgama Kosgoda Koslanda Kotagala Kothmale Kotikawatta Kotikawatte Kotiyakumbura Kottawa Kotugoda Kuliyapitiya Kuliyapitiya Kumbukgate Kurunduwatte Kurunegala Kurunegala Kuruwita Labuduwa Laggala Lindula Lunugala Lunugamwehera Madagalla Madakalpuwa Madampe Madampe Madulsima Madurankuliya Mahaoya Mahara Maharagama Maharagama Mahiyanganaya Maho Makandura Malabe Mallavi Malwana Malwana Manampitiya Manipay Mankulam Mannar Mannarama Mapalagama Maradankadawala Maruthankerny Maskeliya Matale Matale Matara Matara Matugama Mawanella Mawathagama Mælsiripura Medagama Medamahanuwara Medawachchiya Medawala Medirigiriya Meegahakiula Meegalewa Meegoda Meepe Meerigama Menikhinna Middeniya Migamuwa Mihintale Minuwangoda Minuwangoda Mirissa Miriswatte Monaragala Monaragala Moratuwa Moratuwa Morawaka Muhammadiya Puram Mulankavil Mulatiyana Mullaitivu Mullaitivu Mulleriyawa Mulleriyawa Mulleriyawa New Town Mulliyawalai Nagoda Nakkala Nallathanniya Nallur Nanu Oya Narammala Nattandiya Naula Navatkuli Nawagaththegama Nawalapitiya Nedunkerny Negombo Nelliyady Neluwa Neriyakulam Nikaweratiya Nildandahinna Nittambuwa Nivithigala Nochchiyagama Norwood Nugegoda Nuwara Eliya Oddusudan Okkampitiya Opanayake Opatha Paadeniya Padalangala Padaviya Padiyapelella Padiyathalawa Padukka Palaly Pallai Pallebedda Panadraya Panama Pandatharippu Pannala Paranthan Passara Pasyala Peduru Tuduwa Pelawaththa Pelawatte Peliyagoda Pelmadulla Pemaduwa Pesalai Pilimathalawa Pitabeddara Pitigala Point Pedro Polgahawela Polgahawela Polonnaruwa Polonnaruwa Polpithigama Pooliyawatta Poonakary Pottuvil Pugoda Puliyankulam Pundaluoya Puthukkudiyirippu Puttalam Puttalama Puwakpitiya Querceta Ragala Ragama Ragama Rakwana Rambewa Rambukkana Ranna Ratmalana Ratnapura Ratnapuraya Rattota Rawathawatta Rikillagaskada Ruwanwella Saliyawewa Sammanturai Seeduwa Seethawakapura Serunuwara Sigiriya Siyambalanduwa Sooriyakanda Sri Jayawardanapura Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte Suriyawewa Talaimannar Talawakele Tangalle Tanggalla Teldeniya Tellippalai Thalathuoya Thalawathugoda Thambuttegama Thanamalwila Tharmapuram Thelijjawila Thirumurikandy Thissamaharama Tirikunamalaya Trincomalee Udapussellawa Udawalawe Ududumbara Udugama Uhana Ukuwela Urubokka Uruthirapuram Vaddakachchi Valaichchenai Valvedditturai Valvettithurai Varany Vavuniya Vavuniyawa Velanai Vellankulam Veyangoda Visuvamadu Wadduwa Walapane Walasmulla Walgama Wanduramba Warakapola Wariyapola Watawala Wattala Wattala Wattegama Wattegama Weerakatiya Weerapana Weerawila Welesara Weligalla Weligama Weligama Welikanda Welimada Welioya Weliweriya Wellampitiya Wellawaya Wennappuwa Yakkala Yakkalamulla Yapanaya Yatiyantota

Visa Requirements

Check what visa a citizen of Sri Lanka needs to enter any country.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the capital of Sri Lanka?
The capital of Sri Lanka is Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte.
What currency does Sri Lanka use?
Sri Lanka uses the Sri Lankan rupee (Rs රු) as its official currency.
What language is spoken in Sri Lanka?
The official language(s) of Sri Lanka include Sinhala, Tamil.
What is the population of Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka has a population of approximately 21,763,170 people.
What region is Sri Lanka in?
Sri Lanka is located in Asia, specifically in the Southern Asia subregion.
What is the international calling code for Sri Lanka?
The international dialing code for Sri Lanka is +94.
What time zones does Sri Lanka observe?
Sri Lanka observes the following time zone(s): UTC+05:30.
What is the current time in Sri Lanka?
The local time in Sri Lanka is currently --:--. This time applies to the primary time zone.
What is the total area of Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka covers a total area of 65,610 km².
How many states or provinces does Sri Lanka have?
Sri Lanka is divided into 40 states or provinces.
What are the public holidays in Sri Lanka in 2026?
You can view the complete list of public holidays for Sri Lanka in 2026 on the Holidays 2026 page.
What are the visa requirements for citizens of Sri Lanka?
Visa requirements for citizens of Sri Lanka vary by destination. Use our Visa Requirements Checker below to look up requirements for any destination country.