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סרי לנקה: מה לדעת לפני הנסיעה

העיקר

  • Everyone needs an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before travel—apply only at eta.gov.lk. It's free for 40 nationalities (incl. Russia, UK, US, India, China and many EU states) until about May 2027; others pay USD 50.
  • Buddha images are sacred: tattoos of the Buddha can lead to deportation; never pose with your back to a statue or touch it.
  • Two monsoons hit different coasts: the south-west is best Dec–Apr, the east coast May–Sep.
  • E-cigarettes/vapes cannot be imported or sold.
  • Drug possession is punished severely, including for small amounts.

כניסה ואשרות

All tourists need an ETA (30-day stay, double entry) obtained online before arrival. Under a scheme approved on 7 May 2026 the ETA is free for 40 countries for one year; everyone else pays the standard fee (USD 50 for most). Extensions are possible at the Department of Immigration in Colombo. An online arrival card is available but optional.

טפסים והיתרים מקוונים

תוקף הדרכון: At least 6 months from arrival.

בגבול עשויים לבקש

  • Show the ETA approval (printed or on phone) and a return/onward ticket.
  • Officers may ask for proof of funds and accommodation.

מכס

  • Duty-free alcohol: 2 bottles of wine and 1.5 litres of spirits per adult.
  • E-cigarettes and vapes are prohibited imports.
  • Antiques (over 50 years old) need a licence to export.
  • Drones must be declared and need prior authorisation.

נבדק ב-29 באוקטובר 2026 · מקורות: eta.gov.lk ↗, oravisa.com ↗, discover.passportindex.org ↗, srilanka-botschaft.de ↗, immigration.gov.lk ↗, gov.uk ↗

כסף

גם מזומן וגם כרטיסים נפוצים. כרטיסים מתקבלים בעיקר בערים ובאזורי תיירות.

רשתות תשלום: Visa, Mastercard, Amex, UnionPay

Apple Pay — אין נתונים · Google Pay — אין נתונים

איפה להחליף כסף

  • Bank counters in the Colombo airport arrival hall give normal bank rates
  • Banks (Commercial Bank, Sampath, HNB, Bank of Ceylon) and licensed money changers in Colombo

איפה לא להחליף

  • Hotels
  • Unlicensed street changers

כספומטים: Bank ATMs (Commercial Bank, Sampath, HNB, BOC) are common in towns; a local fee may apply in addition to your bank's. Carry cash for rural areas.

טיפ: Many hotels/restaurants add a 10% service charge; otherwise 10% is appreciated. Tip drivers and guides (customary on multi-day tours).

  • Cards widely accepted in hotels and larger restaurants; tuk-tuks, small shops and temples are cash only.
  • Russian-issued Visa/Mastercard cards do not work abroad; bring USD/EUR cash or a card issued elsewhere.
  • Keep exchange receipts to reconvert rupees when leaving.

נבדק ב-29 באוקטובר 2026 · מקורות: cbsl.gov.lk ↗, gov.uk ↗

כללים ואיסורים

אסור

  • Disrespecting Buddhism: Buddha tattoos, posing with back to statues, touching or climbing on statues can lead to arrest or deportation.
  • E-cigarettes and vapes: import and sale banned.
  • Drugs: harsh penalties, including for cannabis.
  • Drones: need Civil Aviation Authority and Ministry of Defence permission.
  • Photography of military sites, police and some government buildings is prohibited.
  • Taking photos inside some temple shrines (e.g. Temple of the Tooth inner chamber) is restricted.

חוקים שתיירים מפרים בלי לדעת

  • Alcohol isn't sold on Poya (full moon) days; bars and liquor shops close.
  • Topless and nude bathing are illegal.
  • Same-sex sexual acts remain criminalised (rarely enforced).
  • Carry your passport or a copy.

נבדק ב-29 באוקטובר 2026 · מקורות: gov.uk ↗, srilanka.travel ↗, gov.uk ↗

תרבות ולבוש

דת: Buddhism about 70%, Hinduism about 13%, Islam about 10%, Christianity about 7%.

לבוש: Temples: shoulders and knees covered, white or light clothing preferred; remove shoes and hats (bring socks for hot stone floors). Modest clothing away from beaches.

נימוסים

  • Never turn your back to a Buddha statue for photos.
  • Use the right hand for giving, receiving and eating.
  • Ask before photographing monks and people.
  • Head wobble can mean yes or 'I understand'.
  • Public displays of affection are frowned upon.

נבדק ב-29 באוקטובר 2026 · מקורות: gov.uk ↗, srilanka.travel ↗

אקלים

Tropical, 27–31°C on the coasts, cooler in the hill country (Nuwara Eliya ~16°C). South-west monsoon May–Sep soaks the west and south coasts; north-east monsoon Nov/Dec–Feb hits the east and north. Inter-monsoon storms in Oct–Nov.

לפי חודשים
  • ינואר: West/south coasts dry; east wet
  • פברואר: Dry west/south; good hill country
  • מרץ: Dry west/south; Adam's Peak season
  • אפריל: Hot; Sinhala/Tamil New Year
  • מאי: SW monsoon starts on west coast
  • יוני: West/south wet; east coast good
  • יולי: East coast and Arugam Bay at best
  • אוגוסט: East good; Kandy Esala Perahera
  • ספטמבר: East good; west still wet
  • אוקטובר: Inter-monsoon rains island-wide
  • נובמבר: Rainy island-wide
  • דצמבר: West/south dry; east wet

העונה הטובה: December–April for the west, south and hill country; May–September for the east coast.

נבדק ב-29 באוקטובר 2026 · מקורות: meteo.gov.lk ↗, en.wikipedia.org ↗

מה לקחת

  • Plug adapter (types D, G, M; 230V)
  • Light clothing covering shoulders and knees, white for temples
  • Socks for hot temple floors
  • Warm layer for the hill country and Adam's Peak
  • Insect repellent (dengue)
  • Sunscreen and hat
  • Rain jacket for monsoon season
  • Leech socks for rainforest treks (Sinharaja)

לא לקחת / אסור להכניס

  • Clothing or items showing the Buddha
  • Visible Buddha tattoos—cover them
  • Vapes and e-cigarettes
  • Drones without permits

מידע מעשי

שקעים: Types D, G, M; 230V 50Hz

מים: Don't drink tap water; use bottled or filtered water.

תנועה: נסיעה בצד שמאל

סלולר ו-eSIM: Dialog, Mobitel and Airtel/Hutch tourist SIMs at Colombo airport (passport needed); eSIMs available.

אפליקציות: PickMe, Uber, WhatsApp, Google Maps

בריאות: Dengue is common; use repellent. Consider hepatitis A, typhoid and rabies vaccines. Sri Lanka is certified malaria-free. Yellow fever certificate if arriving from a risk country.

ביטוח: Not required for the ETA; strongly recommended.

חירום: Police 119; Ambulance 1990 (Suwa Seriya); Fire 110; Tourist hotline 1912

נבדק ב-29 באוקטובר 2026 · מקורות: gov.uk ↗, wwwnc.cdc.gov ↗

כללי הכניסה משתנים. לפני הנסיעה בדקו באתר השגרירות או רשות ההגירה של המדינה.