Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Room cleaners
Up to Rs 100 per day
Bag carriers/porters
Rs 50 per bag
Shoe minders at temples
Rs 20
Guides
Varies greatly; agree to a fee in parks and religious sites
before
you set out
Opening Hours
Generally you'll find the following opening hours in Sri Lanka, although variations exist. Out-
side of tourist areas much is closed on Sunday.
Banks
8am to 3pm Monday to Friday
Bars
Usually close by midnight, last call is often a sobering 11pm.
Government and private offices, post offices
8am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday (but they
are not standardised)
Restaurants and cafes
7am to 9pm daily, later in areas popular with travellers
Shops
10am to 7pm Monday to Friday, 10am to 3pm Saturday
Shops and services catering to visitors
9am to 8pm
Photography
Most Sri Lankans love getting their picture taken, but it's common courtesy to ask permis-
sion. A few business-oriented folk, such as the stilt fishermen at Koggala or the mahouts
at the Pinnewala Elephant Orphanage will ask for payment.
It's forbidden to film or photograph dams, airports, road blocks or anything associated
with the military.
Never pose beside or in front of a statue of the Buddha (ie with your back to it) as this is
considered extremely disrespectful.
Flash photography can damage age-old frescoes and murals, so respect the restrictions
at places such as Dambulla and Sigiriya.
