Moving to Sri Lanka
The country and its people
Sri Lanka is an island nation off the southern coast of India and is the oldest democracy in South Asia. It is the 57th most populous country in the world, with an estimated population of over 20 million people and an average growth rate of 0.73% per year. Sri Lanka itself has two capitals, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte and Colombo, as well as its own currency, the Sri Lankan rupee.
About 70% of the population of Sri Lanka are Buddhists, followed by Hindus and then Muslims. Sri Lankans benefit from a long life expectancy, more than 10% higher than the world average, with a population life expectancy of almost 80 years.
One of the official languages of Sri Lanka is Sinhala, the mother tongue of the Sinhalese - the largest ethnic group in the country with about 16 million. Tamil is the second official language and is spoken in Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka; Tamil is also one of Singapore's native languages. English is widely used in business, science and education (known as the 'language of connection'), and languages such as Portuguese and Dutch are used by some Sri Lankans.
Climate in Sri Lanka
Separated from the Indian subcontinent, the island of Sri Lanka mostly consists of flat land, with only mountains in the south of the country. The highest point on the island is at Pidurutalagala, which reaches 2,524 meters (8,281 ft) above sea level.
Sri Lanka has a tropical climate, with average temperatures ranging from 17°C to 33°C and significant temperature fluctuations between day and night. Rainfall on the island is influenced by monsoon winds in the Indian Ocean and some parts of the central highlands receive up to 2500 mm of rain per month, while the east and north-east of the island receive little rainfall.
Visas for Sri Lanka
All non-Sri Lankan citizens need a visa to enter the country. The type of visa required depends on the proposed length of stay and the purpose of your visit. The Department of Immigration and Emigration is responsible for visa, passport, citizenship and border control services; you can find all the details atwebsite hun, including details on short-stay visas, resident visas and citizenship requirements.
For business, tourism and transit purposes, visitors need an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), an official authorization for a short visit to Sri Lanka. There may be restrictions on certain business activities or entry into the country as part of the media; full details can be found attheir official site, where you can also submit an ETA request. Visitors from Guinea, Liberia, Cameroon, Nigeria, Mali and Sierra Leone must report to the nearest foreign mission on arrival in Sri Lanka to obtain their ETA. ETA visitors can request an extension of their stay for up to 90 days at a time; they can be requested on the website of the Department of Immigration and Emigration. For longer stays, a residence visa is required, which must then be renewed once a year.
Visitors who are nationals of the Republic of Singapore, the Republic of the Maldives or the Republic of Seychelles do not require a visa for stays of up to 30 days.