Sri Lanka Visa

Sri Lanka’s warm climate, pristine beaches and delicious food are just some of the reasons people visit the so-called 'Pearl of the Indian Ocean'. What this tiny island nation lacks in size, it certainly makes up for in sheer wonder.

Sri Lanka's Culture

Sri Lanka’s culture is heavily influenced by the heritage of Theravada Buddhism, the religion’s oldest religious practice. The country boasts the longest uninterrupted history of Buddhism of any predominantly Buddhist nation, and over 70% of the population still observes the religion. Everything from the country’s architecture and art to music and national celebrations are influenced by the religion, including the temples throughout Sri Lanka, and the monthly Poya national holidays. These occur every full moon, and celebrate different life events of the Buddha, such as his birthday (Vesak Poya) and his first sermon (Esala Poya). Each poya is marked by festivals, parades and fasting, with most of the country’s businesses and shops closing for the day.

Sinhala and Tamil are Sri Lanka’s two official languages, though English is defined in the constitution as the link language and often used for education, scientific and commercial purposes. The Sinhalese are the dominant ethnic group in Sri Lanka, making up almost three quarters of the population, with Sri Lankan Tamils and Moors the next two largest groups.

Sport plays a huge role in Sri Lankan culture,and the country is famous for its incredibly successful national cricket team, while volleyball is Sri Lanka’s national sport and played across the country. The nation is also known for its delectable food, largely influenced by Southern Indian, Indonesian and Dutch cuisines. Staples include spicy curries, rice dishes and alcoholic drinks such as toddy or arrack, both of which are made from palm tree sap.

Sri Lanka's Economy

Sri Lanka has an emerging lower-middle income economy, with its main industries including tourism, textiles and rice production. Although this was traditionally a rural-based economy, it has become more urbanised in recent years, with a greater focus on manufacturing and services. This has helped spark incredible progress, and the economy expanded at an average rate of 5.3% between 2010 and 2019, following the end of the 30-year civil war in 2009.

Sri Lanka's Most Popular Destinations

One of the best things about Sri Lanka is its abundance of ancient architecture. Arguably the pick of the bunch is the Sigiriya, a rock fortress in the northern Matale District which gained UNESCO-listed World Heritage status. King Kashyapa (477–495 CE) was said to have chosen the area for his new capital, and built his palace on the top of the rock there. Another must-visit is the ancient city of Poḷonnaruwa in the North Central Province, which was first established by the Chola dynasty after its invasion of Sri Lanka in the 10th century. Here, you’ll find an array of ruins and temples, including the Royal Palace, the Lankatilaka Buddha statue and the ancient Pabalu Vehera stupa.

Sri Lanka is also a nation of magnificent natural habitats. Highlights include the Bentota resort town with its beautiful beaches, Unawatuna with its spectacular coral reef, and the Knuckles Mountain Range. The country’s national parks are not to be missed either — visit the likes of the Horton Plains National Park, the Sinharaja Forest Reserve and Yala National Park for jaw-dropping landscapes and fascinating fauna. At each of these locations, you’ll find everything from elephants and leopards to monkeys and buffalos, as well as a range of exotic birds.