Business Customs

The language of business in Sri Lanka is English, and business cards are considered essential. Courtesy and personal graciousness are highly valued and can play an important role in building relationships and securing agreements. While punctuality is not emphasized to the same extent as in the United States, most appointments and commitments are observed and honored.

Travel Advisory

The U.S. Embassy provides updated travel and security information for Sri Lanka through the Department of State’sEmbassy Consular Information Sheet. Travelers are encouraged to review the latest guidance prior to arrival. Current information can be accessed at https://travel.state.go

Visa Requirements

For current information on obtaining business visas to Sri Lanka, travelers should consult the Embassy of Sri Lanka website. Specific inquiries regarding entry and exit requirements may be directed to the Embassy of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, 3025 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008. The Embassy may be contacted by email at slembassy@slembassyusa.org, by telephone at +1 202 483 4025, by emergency/after-hours telephone at +1 202 580 9546, or by fax at +1 202 232 7181. Several honorary Sri Lankan consuls general and consuls also operate in the United States; their details are available on the Embassy’s website.

Travelers intending to live in or visit Sri Lanka are encouraged to register with the U.S. Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) at https://step.state.gov/. Enrollment allows the U.S. Embassy in Colombo to provide important safety, and security updates and helps friends and family contact travelers in the event of an emergency.

U.S. companies requiring travel of foreign businesspersons to the United States should note that U.S. visa applications are subject to a U.S. government interagency security review process. Applicants should consult the State Department visa website for detailed guidance.

Local U.S. Embassy contact information is as follows: U.S. Embassy Colombo, 210 Galle Road, Colombo 03, Sri Lanka. Telephone: +94-11 249 8500. Fax: +94 11 249 8590. Email for American Citizens Services: ColomboACS@state.gov. Additional information is available at the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy Colombo website: https://lk.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/.

Currency

The rupee (symbols: රු, [CA1] Rs.; code: LKR) is Sri Lanka’s currency and is divided into 100 cents. It is issued by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka and is most written as Rs., though SLRs. is occasionally used for disambiguation.

As of November 27, 2025[CA2] , the exchange rate was approximately $1 = Rs. 315.

ATMs are widely available throughout the country and generally accept U.S. ATM network cards, including MasterCard and Visa. However, ATM fraud, including card information theft, has been reported. Users should exercise caution, remain aware of their surroundings when withdrawing cash, and monitor bank accounts closely.

Major U.S. credit cards are also widely accepted for the purchase of goods and services. As with ATM usage, credit card fraud is a risk, and travelers should take precautions to protect their financial information.

Telecommunications/Electronics

International direct dialing and cellular telephone services are widely available in Sri Lanka. Mobile phones with GSM roaming facilities and wireless communication devices function throughout the country. A 4G LTE internet network is available in Colombo and other major cities. International mail and courier services, including FedEx, UPS, and DHL, operate in Sri Lanka. Several local providers offer internet and email services, though phone-line quality can vary and connections are sometimes unreliable. Power outages occur more frequently outside Colombo, particularly in rural areas.

Transportation

As of July 2025, Sri Lanka is served by 30 airlines, with flights gradually recovering from the country’s economic crisis. U.S. airlines do not directly serve Sri Lanka, but travelers can reach Colombo via partner airlines. Common routes from the U.S. East Coast transit through London, Dubai, or Doha, while travelers from the West Coast typically connect in Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, or Bangkok.

Because there is no direct commercial air service to the United States by carriers registered in Sri Lanka, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not assessed Sri Lanka’s Civil Aviation Authority for compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards. In May 2023, an interim ICAO audit under the Universal Security Audit Program Continuous Monitoring Approach (USAP-CMA) rated Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) at 92 percent for security standards compliance.

Domestic air travel is extremely limited, and road travel is often slow and dangerous. Charter helicopter services and rental cars with drivers are available, while taxis operate readily in Colombo. Ridesharing applications, including Uber and PickMe, are available in Colombo and Galle but are not common in smaller towns or rural areas.

U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions very different from those in the United States. Vehicles in Sri Lanka drive on the left-hand side of the road, following the British system. Colombo traffic is heavily congested, and narrow two-lane highways crowded with trucks, buses, ox carts, motorcycles, and four-wheel-drive vehicles make driving hazardous. Roadblocks and one-way streets are frequent and not always clearly marked. Many visitors hire cars and drivers for longer trips. Passengers using three-wheeled vehicles, known as “trishaws” or “tuk-tuks,” should negotiate prices in advance to avoid disputes. When renting a vehicle, travelers should specifically request working seatbelts.

Additional road safety information is available on the U.S. Embassy’s Road Safety page, the Sri Lanka Tourism website (https://www.srilanka.travel/), and the National Council for Road Safety (http://www.transport.gov.lk/).

Language

English is the primary language of business in Sri Lanka. Sinhala, Tamil, and English are all official languages.

Health 

For dated information on health services in Sri Lanka, visit the U.S. Department of State’s website at travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/country/sri-lanka.html. For updated information on health services in Sri Lanka, visit the U.S. Department of State website at https://travel.state.gov. Guidance on vaccinations and other precautions can be found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website (https://www.cdc.gov/) or through its international travelers’ hotline at +1-877-394-8747. The World Health Organization (WHO) website (https://www.who.int/en) also provides information on outbreaks and detailed country-specific health guidance..

Medical Insurance

Travelers should not assume their U.S. health insurance will provide coverage in Sri Lanka. Before departure, confirm with your insurance company whether your policy applies abroad and whether it covers emergencies such as hospital stays or medical evacuation. Many hospitals and doctors in Sri Lanka expect payment in cash at the time of service, and standard U.S. health insurance policies may not apply. If existing coverage does not extend overseas, consider purchasing supplemental medical insurance for the trip. Additional information is available on the Department of State’s Medical Insurance Overseas page.

Local Time, Business Hours, and Holidays

Business travelers to Sri Lanka should check whether any local holidays coincide with their trips. The country observes about 20 public holidays each year, during which government offices and banks are closed. Most private companies also close on these days.

Sri Lankan holidays reflect the country’s four major religions: Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity, and many vary from year to year. Fixed-date holidays include Independence Day on February 4, Labor Day on May 1, and Christmas on December 25. Each full moon is observed as a Buddhist religious holiday known as Poya Day.

Sri Lanka is in the GMT+5.30 time zone and does not observe daylight savings time. Business hours are generally from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Government offices typically operate from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Holidays 2026

January 2                                          Duruthu Full Moon Poya Day *  

January 14                                       Tamil Thai Pongal Day *

February 1                                        Navam Full Moon Poya Day *

February                                           National Day *

February 15                                      Mahasivarathri Day *                      

March 3                                            Madin Full Moon Poya Day *

March 21                                          Id-Ul-Fitr *

April 1                                               Bak Full Moon Poya Day *

April 3                                               Good Friday *

April 13                                             Day prior to Sinhala & Tamil New Year Day *

April 14                                             Sinhala & Tamil New Year Day *

May 1                                               May Day *

May 1                                               Vesak Full Moon Poya Day *

May 2                                                Day following Vesak Full Moon Poya Day *

May 27                                              Id Ul-Alha *

May 30                                              Adhi Vesak Full Moon Poya Day

June 29                                             Poson Full Moon Poya Day *

July 29                                              Esala Full Moon Poya Day *

August 25                                         Nikini Full Moon Poya Day *

August 25                                         Milad-Un-Nabi (Holy Prophet’s birthday) *

August 27                                         Nikini Full Moon Poya Day *

September 26                                   Binara Full Moon Poya Day *

October 25                                       Vap Full Moon Poya Day *

November 8                                      Deepavali Festival Day *

November 24                                   Ill Full Moon Poya Day *

December 23                                    Unduvap Full Moon Poya Day *

December 25                                    Christmas Day *

Note: Private companies are closed on holidays marked with *

Temporary Entry of Materials or Personal Belongings

Temporary entry for exhibition material is permitted under the Carnet system of the International Chamber of Commerce. Exporters must ensure that the required documents are certified in the country of origin and presented to Customs at the time of clearance. Goods imported under the Carnet system must be re-exported within six months. For additional information, contact the Director General of Customs, 40 Main Street, Colombo 11, telephone +94 11 234 7881, fax +94 11 244 6364, or email dgc@customs.gov.lk.

Business travelers and visitors may bring portable computers, with or without encrypted software, as personal baggage without paying duties or taxes. Customs does not check installed software that accompanies personal baggage; however, removable software must be declared. Global Positioning System (GPS) devices or similar equipment are technically prohibited without prior special permission.