Everything overseas visitors need in their pocket: regulated tuk-tuk meter prices, multi-currency budget calculators, airport SIM guides, self-drive driving laws, and 1-tap free emergency dispatch.
Outside Colombo, three-wheelers do not use meters. Use our live fuel-regulated benchmark accounting for hill switchbacks.
Official fuel benchmark • Never accept 3x inflated quotes
Backpacker, Flashpacker, and Luxury daily cash requirements with real USD, EUR, GBP, & AUD conversion.
Calculate BudgetDialog vs. Mobitel 30-day tourist data packages at CMB Airport arrivals hall & mountain dead-zone radar.
Inspect Telco PlansCrucial Automobile Association of Ceylon (AAC) endorsement law, private bus right-of-way, and gear safety.
View Road RulesSouth Coast (Weligama, Hiriketiya) Nov–Apr vs. East Coast (Arugam Bay, Whiskey Point) May–Oct.
Check Swell RadarLow-crowd alternatives: Yapahuwa rock citadel, Pidurangala sunrise, Delft Island wild ponies, and Upper Diyaluma pools.
Discover SecretsTemple modest wear, thick white socks for 50°C stone floors, Nuwara Eliya evening fleece, and leech socks.
Open ChecklistHarmless land leech management, safe drinking water rules, 24/7 private hospitals, and 1-tap 1990 ambulance copy.
Read Health GuideExplore 110+ curated destinations across Sri Lanka with true topography routing and regional town packs.
Launch Vector MapOutside Colombo, tuk-tuks rarely use meters. Official fuel-regulated benchmarks: Base fare is ~LKR 120 for the 1st kilometer, and ~LKR 95–100 per subsequent kilometer on flat coastal roads. In steep hill country (Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Ella), add roughly 30% for high fuel consumption on mountain switchbacks. An 8 km coastal ride should cost around LKR 800–900 (~$2.75 USD), not the LKR 2,500 tourist quote.
No. An IDP is NOT legally valid on its own in Sri Lanka. You must obtain an official endorsement from the Automobile Association of Ceylon (AAC) in Colombo, or a temporary driving license from the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT). Driving without this endorsement invalidates your insurance and leads to heavy police fines.
Dial 1990 for the 1990 Suwa Seriya free government ambulance service. It is fully operational 24/7 across the entire island, staffed with trained emergency paramedics, and dispatch operators speak English, Sinhala, and Tamil. Average urban dispatch time is under 12 minutes.
Directly in the arrivals hall of Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) immediately after exiting customs. Both Dialog Axiata and SLT-Mobitel operate 24/7 official counters offering government-regulated tourist SIM/eSIM data plans (30GB–50GB for ~$8–$11 USD). You will need your passport for registration.