Newspapers
Newspapers are available daily and mostly sellout by noon. There
are many special Sunday editions. Of the English-language newspapers,
the Daily News (www.lanka.netj lakehouse) and the Observer are
government-sponsored -the former appearing in the morning, the
latter, at noon. Private newspapers include the Island, the Sunday
Times (online at: WWW.lacnet.org/suntimes) and the Sunday Leader.
Most hotels and reputable book shops carry international magazines
such as Newsweek, Asiaweek, Time, The Far Eastern Economic Review,
The Economist and some French and German publications. The International
Herald Tribune and Asian Wall Street Journal arrive a day late
and are
available in most leading hotels.
Television
Television has improved with a range of new channels that run to later hours,
and up-to-the-minute international news services via Sky News, BBC and CNN.
There are seven TV channels, showing English, Sinhalese and Tamil programmes.
Some channels broadcast in the morning, as well as transmitting in the evening.
Programme listings are available in the newspapers.
Radio
Radio has also expanded over recent years. The government-run SLBC, an English
service, now faces stiff competition from other more up-to-date and professionally
run operations such as Capital Radio, TNL and Yes FM. These offer DJ music
with chart hits, jazz and classical music. Sinhala and Tamil radio shows are
also widely transmitted.
Postal Services
These are not particularly reliable. As there are periodic strikes and delays,
it is best to register urgent post. The General Post Office, on Janadhipathi
Mawatha (Tel: 323140) is open 24 hours a day. There is a counter for receiving
mail intended for overseas destinations. Postal rates are extremely cheap in
comparison with those overseas. When sending airmail letters with stamps, it
is best to make sure that they are "franked" in front of you, to prevent them
being steamed off and re-used. All overseas packages should be stqmped with
a green customs label stating the contents and value. Post office working hours
are 7am-5/6pm weekdays and gam-6pm Saturday. Mail is delivered every day except
Sunday and public holidays. The simplest way to mail anything is through your
I hotel, but there are
reliable internationalcourier services available.
Area Dialling Code
Aluthgama 034
|
Ambalangoda 09
|
Anuradhapura 025 |
Badulla 055
|
Bandarawela 057
|
Bentota 034
|
Beruwela 034
|
Colombo 01
|
Dambulla 066
|
Dehiwela 01 |
Ella 057
|
Galle 09
|
Giritale 027 |
Habarana 066
|
Hambantota 047
|
Haputale 057
|
Hikkaduwa 09
|
Jaffna 021 |
Kalutara 034
|
Kandy 08
|
Kataragama 047
|
Kurunegala 037
|
Matara 041
|
Mount Lavinia 01
|
Negombo 031
|
Nuwara Eliya 052
|
Polonaruwa 027
|
Ratnapura 045
|
Sigiriya 066
|
Tangalla 047
|
Tissamaharama 047
|
Trincomalee 026 |
Unawatuna 09 |
Weligama 041 |
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