Area: 65,610 km²
Residents: 20,877,000 (2017)
Population density: 318 E / km²
Form of Government: Republic
System of Government: Presidential system (partly parliamentary democracy)
State capital: Colombo National
language: Tamil, Sinhala
the business and educational Languages are English
Religions: 70.2 % Buddhists
12.6% Hindus
9.7% Muslims
7.4% Christians
Currency: Sri Lanka Rupee (LKR)
1 LKR = 100 cents
Exchange rates:
1 EUR = 231.75 LKR
100 LKR = 0.42 EUR
1 CHF = 209.22 LKR
100 LKR = 0.47 CHF
(rate from March 10th, 2021)
Telephone area code: +94
Time zone: UTC + 5.30
In 2020, 67 Germans officially emigrated to Sri Lanka and 134 came back home. Within the 10 years from 2010 to 2019, 1,279 Germans officially emigrated to Sri Lanka and 1,155 moved back to Germany.
According to allcitycodes, the climate in Sri Lanka is tropical, warm, mostly has a mild sea breeze and high humidity. The average temperatures are 16 degrees Celsius in the central highlands and 32 degrees Celsius on the northeast coast of the country. There are quite different precipitation conditions. The south-west of the country is always humid, while there is little rainfall on the north-east and east coast.
Sri Lanka is a popular travel destination due to its unique nature and interesting culture. It is also known as an export country for Ceylon tea and coffee.
Travel and Immigration
Changed travel regulations during and after the corona pandemic
The airports in Colombo and Mattala have restricted access to international passengers. All visas must be applied for online via the Immigration Service’s Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) portal prior to entry.
A prerequisite for the issuing of a tourist visa is the confirmed booking in a “Safe and Secure Level 1” certified hotel for the first 14 days of the stay. In addition, the traveler must take out Sri Lankan COVID-19 insurance through the “Safe and Secure Level 1” certified hotel. The insurance reference number must be given when applying for the ETA visa.
All travelers must present a negative PCR test in English upon entry. The swab may have been taken a maximum of 96 hours before departure. Any deviating specifications of the airline must be observed.
Upon entry, a health declaration (“Health Declaration Form”) must be presented to the airport’s “Airport Health Office”. A further PCR test is mandatory for all travelers over the age of 12 upon arrival at the hotel. The cost of this is to be paid by the traveler via the ETA portal. Children under 2 years of age are exempt from the test requirement in Sri Lanka; special regulations apply to children between 2 and 12 years of age.
Another PCR test is required after 7 or 14 days, depending on the vaccination status. Further information is available on the website of the Sri Lankan Tourism Authority and the Sri Lankan Ministry of Health.
Source: Federal Foreign Office on July 27, 2021
General provisions for travel and residence (until the corona pandemic)
Visa for entry by foreign nationals
There is a visa requirement upon entry. For a fee (currently US $ 35), an ETA visa valid for 30 days can be applied for online at www.eta.gov.lk. After issuing the visa, you can enter Sri Lanka within 90 days. It is also possible to apply to a Sri Lankan diplomatic mission or a German tour operator. For a surcharge, the visa can also be issued upon arrival at the airport (fee currently 40 US $).
A return or onward flight ticket and proof of accommodation (address, telephone number, hotel reservation) must be enclosed with the application. Please ensure that the information is completely correct, otherwise a new fee-based visa must be applied for in the event of a complaint. A passport, a temporary passport or a children’s passport is required to enter the country. The travel documents must be valid for six months from the date of entry.
If you intend to stay in Sri Lanka for more than 30 days, you can apply for an extension. The short visit visa can be extended up to 90 days from the date of entry in the first instance and a further 90 days in the second instance. However, renewals are time consuming. Early contact with the Department of Immigration and Emigration is therefore recommended.
Department of Immigration and Emigration
Suhurupaya, Sri Subuthipura Road, Baththaramulla
Hotline: 0094 71 9967888
Telephone: 0094 70 1777555, 0094 11 5329422
Fax: 0094 11 2674621
Email: controller@immigration.gov.lk
Website: www.immigration.gov. lk
However, a visa of up to 90 days (tourist visa with single or double entry – US $ 35 – or business visa with single or multiple entry) can be obtained from a Sri Lankan diplomatic mission (e.g. Embassy of Sri Lanka in Berlin). This visa can then be extended during your stay in Sri Lanka for a further 90 days at the Department of Immigration and Emigration in Colombo. There you should present a return flight ticket, a credit card and proof of cash officially exchanged or paid out in Sri Lanka (e.g. by bank transfer from abroad). Usually US $ 1,500 is enough. You can find detailed information about permanent residence permits for employees, students and volunteers under Work and Vacancies.
The ETA Sri Lanka (E-visa) You can also apply for VisumAntrag.de in German. The costs for the Sri Lanka visa can be paid here not only by credit card, but also by instant transfer, eps transfer, Giropay or PayPal. You will also receive expert German-language support by email and telephone.
“My Dream Home” program
If you are planning an extended stay in Sri Lanka together with a residence visa, you can use the “Sri Lanka – MY DREAM HOME” program under the following conditions:
- From 55 years of age of the applicant
- Applicants should send US $ 15,000 or the equivalent in an approved foreign currency to Sri Lanka and deposit the amount in a fixed deposit account at an approved commercial bank in Sri Lanka
- In addition, a monthly allowance of US $ 1,500 or the equivalent in an approved foreign currency for the main applicant and 750 US $ or the equivalent in an approved foreign currency for each spouse and / or child belonging to the household (if accompanied by a spouse and / or children) to an account with a Sri Lankan approved bank
- Applicants must have valid health insurance that can be used in Sri Lanka
The visa is valid for 2 years and is renewable. The complete (but unfortunately not error-free) information can be found on the official website of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Berlin.
