Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
'Semi-comfortable' (or 'semi-luxe') buses are run by private companies and have larger
seats and window curtains compared to CTB buses, but lack the air-con of the best inter-
city buses.
Most people at bus stations and on buses will help you with your questions.
Luggage space is limited or non-existent; you may have to buy a ticket for your bag.
The first two seats on CTB buses are reserved for clergy (Buddhist monks).
To guarantee a seat, board the bus at the beginning of its journey.
When you arrive at your destination, confirm the departure details for the next stage of
your journey.
Costs
In most cases, private bus companies run services parallel to CTB services. Intercity ex-
presses charge about twice as much as CTB buses, but are more than twice as comfort-
able and usually faster. Fares for CTB buses and ordinary private buses are very cheap.
Car & Motorcycle
Self-drive car hire is possible in Sri Lanka, though it is far more common to hire a car and
driver. If you're on a relatively short visit to Sri Lanka on a midrange budget, the costs of
hiring a car and driver can be quite reasonable.
When planning your itinerary, you can count on covering about 35km/h in the Hill Country
and 55km/h in most of the rest of the country.
Motorcycling is an alternative for intrepid travellers. Distances are relatively short and
some of the roads are a motorcyclist's delight; the trick is to stay off the main highways.
The quieter Hill Country roads offer some glorious views, and secondary roads along the
coast and the plains are reasonably quick. But you will have to make inquiries as motor-
cycle and motorbike rental is nowhere near as commonplace as it is in much of the rest
of Asia.
New expressways are revolutionising how people get around Sri Lanka.
Throughout Sri Lanka, Mw is an abbreviation for Mawatha, meaning 'Avenue'.
