![Aerial view of small boats on Sri Lankan beach](https://images.followalice.com/6mGGtE29ReGZfOtW9FP424/2759433146963631c4ae4bc0db960c30/Sri_Lanka_shoreline_with_boats.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=1200&h=1200)
All your Sri Lanka travel questions answered
In this post we talk practical matters, like language, currency, visa, safety, transport, food and climate. It's everything you need to know to organise your Sri Lanka adventure in one handy place!
What languages do Sri Lankans speak?
Sinhalese Tamil English
![Sri Lanka beach palms trees people seated](https://images.followalice.com/1IPXh93POm3qCYkO4PvNcP/b9fb3f8470ab187ae90c0d97129c05ef/Sri_Lanka_beach_palms_trees_people_seated.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=532)
Sinhalese
The oldest record of the Sinhalese dates back to the sixth century BC! Modern Sinhala is thought to have developed in the twelfth century AD.
Hello. – Ayubowan. How are you? – Kohomadha? What’s your name? – Oyāgē nama mokakda? My name is __. – Magē nama __. How much is this? – Meyka keeyada? Thank you. – Istuti.
![Mother and daughter smiling while looking out the train window in Kandy, Sri Lanka](https://images.followalice.com/7egctWT4UiMYjUXU7HznUh/e91cbe8d788e3f32ac3e3b006db36895/kevin-olson-0udyYWLlzu0-unsplash-1024x576.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=450)
Tamil
![You will always find the Sri Lankan locals smiling!](https://images.followalice.com/5Jh0iFbaYTpQkgKe5sj3rn/da477bc1839807f1d742b9a3b99e6180/Shopkeeper-in-Sri-Lanka.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=571)
English
Sri Lankan English is similar to British English, but with lots of local words infused. Also, foreigners might need to listen closely at first to understand the accent.
![Sri-Lankan-school-girls-in-uniform-1024x683.jpg](https://images.followalice.com/35aJA1AXzNb5Zr5GVdgXdB/bbc383785b4cf82512cbeabecfb51c35/Sri-Lankan-school-girls-in-uniform-1024x683.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=534)
What currency is used in Sri Lanka?
How should I change or withdraw money in Sri Lanka?
![Colourful Sri Lankan rupees](https://images.followalice.com/4zjJkvxTReFqWlqFmb3mNk/7aa4c71246b67adb221c4bcb0d547197/Sri-Lanka-Rupees.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=531)
Exchange rates
![Sri Lankan banknote](https://images.followalice.com/1PQGW3NgTLwelhim3ebLsD/f4fae4bcdab0fa31c1e1d63919da0310/5000-NKR-Sri-Lanka.jpeg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=342)
Reputable banks
Sampath Commercial Bank Hatton National Bank HSBC Standard Chartered Bank
Banknotes
20 rupees 50 rupees 100 rupees 500 rupees 1,000 rupees 5,000 rupees
![Serendip scops owl, Sri Lanka](https://images.followalice.com/5arECUqOS6Ui8y3H7Vq1Y1/1e6abdbd41a34bf07bcb5cf199551375/Serendib_scops_owl.jpeg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=800)
Booking through Follow Alice made our 12-day trip to Sri Lanka feel like a relaxing three weeks.
What is the climate like in Sri Lanka?
![Friends at Sigiriya in Sri Lanka](https://images.followalice.com/3jcZpiRuePmYGJVg7rX0V8/4a9c01f690730dbb3f21c08a8037b1b1/Friends-at-Sigiriya-1024x768.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=600)
Best time to visit Sri Lanka
![wetland in Trincomalee Sri Lanka](https://images.followalice.com/4MSl1BWr3Ys4A4k7u9f0la/0d27c00fcb3e16f400c334f53609fa21/Trincomalee-Sri-Lanka-1024x683.jpeg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=534)
Temperatures
Coastal and lowland areas enjoy average daytime temperatures of around 26 to 30 °C (often climbing well above 30° C during the hottest part of the day). Things are pleasantly mild during the day in the hill country of the interior . Days are often between 14 to 22 °C (57 to 72 °F). Nights can be quite chilly, with temperatures sometimes dropping to near freezing.
![Sri Lanka swimming group pic Colombo Hotel pool](https://images.followalice.com/9z8fhaNkCL4JuApcxNXJ5/8764f5176fc2fbb5efc359af9204a57b/Colombo_Pool_Groupshot.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=603)
What is transport like?
car taxi tuk-tuk bus train
Private car with driver
![Elephants crossing street in Sri Lanka](https://images.followalice.com/5RBJf6y1AiBcrQm2vQa5gx/b525f191dbcca0957c0bc6bd0f85e63a/Policemand-and-elephants-in-Sri-Lanka-1024x689.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=538)
Taxi
Three-wheeler
![Tuk-tuks-by-Banyan-trees-Sri-Lanka-1024x676.jpeg](https://images.followalice.com/7nlJvlwiktTRu1M9Rht0iY/625452c1b1379a03984903ff4382debb/Tuk-tuks-by-Banyan-trees-Sri-Lanka-1024x676.jpeg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=528)
Bus
![Colourful local Sri Lankan buses](https://images.followalice.com/3sDBiUxmNHWwkAnrbINC5v/7e710724dc8f50994615e9b954172931/Local-Bus-Sri-Lanka.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=600)
Train
![woman looking out of train window in Sri Lanka](https://images.followalice.com/4GtMBhO6hKuDLopPBV83q4/70b54f550adf1442263be4d98f73cfeb/32251494-9cfa-4c9a-9bc8-0ebb978c9e14-1024x1024.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=800)
Is it safe in Sri Lanka?
![woman sitting on street in sri lanka](https://images.followalice.com/4lpvnSorrqvxaGJH1oB2q4/f2a8634147c9543eb03631ee3340d964/Woman-sitting-on-street-in-Galle-Sri-Lanka-1024x768.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=600)
A new day
![ch Bridge with blue train in Ella, Sri Lanka](https://images.followalice.com/6jr7jhSTRJAL8jIfdDN0Ri/0e982ef8ceeaf7a12bba11526e23eaf5/Nine-Arch-Bridge-in-Ella-Sri-Lanka-1-1024x682.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=450)
How do I apply for a Sri Lankan visa?
![Pink bougainvillea](https://images.followalice.com/5YzAS7qfBkBsMiRbFAxaxQ/010c42eb22756b146127673c70730a46/Close-up-of-pink-bougainwillea-in-Batuwatta-Sri-Lanka-1024x757.jpeg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=591)
Follow Alice to Sri Lanka
![Joel and friends on safari in Sri Lanka](https://images.followalice.com/4Lc5X38WQeAHLU8OM0KPyn/abe66a8a584a859c147c6d7578d24da4/Joel-and-friends-on-Sri-Lankan-safari-1024x768.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=600)
Based on our suggested destinations, Follow Alice planned a practical route to follow and I feel we got to see pretty much everything. They suggested amazing accommodation to suit our budget and taste.
Meet Dinesh, our Sri Lanka local leader
![Dinesh Sri Lanka](https://images.followalice.com/6j7ALiRK2lmu2a5K2SpvM4/fa32751a028f487ebb4613f1e2b6270e/Sri-Lanka-Dinesh-Smiling.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=533)
Our guide was respectful, honest, funny, kind and knew the island like the back of his hand. I got the royal treatment wherever we went. All the details were perfect and, and on a couple of occasions he changed plans because he knew I wouldn't like the plans that had been made.