Credit
Cards
Most major hotels, restaurants and shopping centres accept credit
cards. However, some places accept one card and not another, so
it is best to check and to have some cash as an alternative. Some
places
refuse to take American Express because of high commission charges.
Note that some establishments may try and add a surcharge to your
card. This is illegal, so you are justified in insisting that they
remove the charge. Contact your card company.
Credit Card Organisations American Express
104, Dharmapala Mawatha, Colombo 7
Phone : 681215
Visa and MasterCard
455/1 Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 8
Phone : 074517978
Exchanging Money and Banking
For a faster service in changing travellers' cheques avoid branches
of the government-controlled banks (People's & Bank of Ceylon)
and try privately owned banks like Hatton National (the Emirates
branch next to the Galadari Hotel has a special foreign exchange
counter), or international
banks like Hong Kong & Shanghai, or Grindlays. Money can also be withdrawn
on credit cards but some refuse to cash travellers' cheques issued by Visa. Exchange
rates fluctuate and any bank will give you a conversion estimate. All commercial
banks are authorised to exchange money, as are many hotels, though hotels offer
lower rates, Travellers' cheques attract a better exchange
rate than cash.
Banks are open 9am - 1.30pm. They are Closed Saturday,
Sunday and all Public
Holidays.
Foreign Banks
|
Address
|
Phone Numbers
|
| ABN-Ambro |
103A Dharmapala Mawatha, Colombo, Srilanka |
Phone : 448448 |
| American Express |
104 Dharmapala Mawatha, Colombo, Srilanka |
Phone : 682787 |
| ANZ Grindlay's |
37 York Street, Colombo, Srilanka |
Phone : 446150 |
| Deutsche Bank |
86 Galle Road, Colombo, Srilanka |
Phone : 447062 |
| Hong Kong & Shanghai |
24 Sir Baron Jayatilaka Mawatha, Colombo, Srilanka |
Phone : 325435 |
| Standard Chartered |
17 Janadhipathi Mawatha, Colombo, Srilanka |
Phone : 326671 |
Photography
Film and cameras are available on arrival at the airport duty-free
shop and at a number of photographic shops in Colombo. Repairs
can be carried out at Heladiva Camera Repairs, Cross Street, Pettah,
who also stock camera filters, polarisers and batteries. A lens
hood and/or polarising filter are useful for reducing flare from
brilliant sunshine and reflection from bright colours. High temperature
and humidity can play havoc with cameras so protect all equipment
with silca gel crystals. A camera left in midday sun can result
in fogged film. If professional film is used it should be refrigerated
both before and after use (be careful, cold film can be very
sharp).
Tipping
As a general rule tipping is not expected unless you feel a service has been
special, although chauffeur guides (but not trishaw drivers) expect one. Hotel
and restaurant bills include a 10 percent service charge as well as a 12.5 percent
government tax (GST). The service charge is supposed to be distributed among
hotel employees. If you are a frequent guest at a restaurant or hotel, or have
received service you wish to reward, a tip of five percent of the bill in cash,
given directly to the person who deserves it, will be appreciated. Bellboys and
doormen should also be tipped, perhaps Rs100 per task. In a resort hotel, don't
forget your room boy, say Rs 500
for a week's stay.
Touts
Touts frequent all main towns but are most prevalent around temples, train and
bus stations, tourist sites and outside hotels. Their friendly over-helpfulness
is designed to make you feel obliged.to part with your money. They may come up
with a convincing act, such as "the student" who is supporting a sick mother
and three siblings. Many trishaw drivers meeting tourist trains at Kandy station
are the worst touts, as they go to inordinate lengths to herd you into a hotel
or guest house where they can claim a fee. The only way to deal with touts is
with a very firm "No!" Another brand of tout has an identity card saying he is
collecting for charity. They usually have a plausible tale but are nothing more
than conmen. If you are feeling charitable you can leave a donation in a temple
or church.
Begging
Begging is a way of life in Asia, and I while some cases are genuine there j
are others who seek to take 1 advantage. , Tourists are easily categorised as
r having a surfeit of cash, so you can expect to attract a fair share of c beggars.
Do remember, however, ( that genuine beggars love to receive o food of any sort
since they can eat d it on the spot -without having to \I share it with the racketeer
who p usually takes most of his earnings. Begging rackets exist mainly in Colombo,
so you might consider carrying a bag of oranges to hand to beggars instead of
cash,
if you object to giving money.
Security and Crime
- Unsafe Areas
Due to the conflict between the Government and the LTTE or " Tamil
Tigers ", there
are certain areas of the island that are not safe for foreign travellers. These
are mainly in the north and visitors should note that everything north of Anuradhapura
is off limits, including Wilpattu National Park. Some parts .of Yala Sanctuary
are also closed. Places on the east coast such as Trincomalee can also be problematic,
so check with a local travel agent or the tourist board that it is safe to visit.
Because of occasional bombings, commercial areas in Colombo such as Fort could
be avoided. However, this state of affairs seems not to deter visitors whose
own cities have suffered terrorist activity. To play safe always check the current
situation
with the tourist board and heed local advice.
Being Safe In Colombo
Offences of mugging and street crime in Colombo are low but it pays to be careful.
Avoid lonely places at night and be wary of accepting lifts from strangers. If
you are staying in a hotel, your valuables should be placed in the safety deposit
box. Remember that property left lying around may be very tempting to those who
earn less in a year than many West- erners earn in a month. In case of an emergency
a special unit called the "Tourist
Police" is available to visitors in Sigiriya, Bentota, Negombo and Hikkaduwa.
All city beaches should be avoided at night, especially those in Colombo, which
take on a seedy and dangerous atmosphere after dark- muggings, robberies and
worse have been known to take place on Mount Lavinia beach. Solo travellers should
avoid the beach at this time altogether. There are frequent military and police
road blocks on roads leading to Colombo and within the city itself. If you are
using a taxi with a prominent hotel logo (such as the Colombo Hilton taxis, which
have liveried chauffeurs), you are unlikely to be stopped. However, vans or three-wheeler
taxis are frequently stopped for checks. For this reason, always carry your passport
or a copy of it or some other form of official-looking identity with your photograph
on
it. Tourists, however, are usually waved on with no more than a glance.
Womens Travellers
Sri Lankan society is conservative, and the way you dress contributes greatly
to people's opinions of you, and also to the way they behave towards you. If
you avoid wearing provocative clothing in busy streets in areas such as Fort
and Pettah in Colombo, the chances are that you won't be harassed. Female travellers
in tourist spots, especially on beaches, are likely to attract unwanted attention.
On the West Coast, around the vicinity of Unawatuna, beach bums solicit female
European holiday-makers looking for a local gigolo, so you may be propositioned
along these lines. Pests can be repelled effectively if you just walk away, avoiding
contact of any sort and saying nothing. On the whole, eye contact is seen as
a "come-on", so, even if simply walking along the road, avoid looking at men
who are strangers.Women should avoid going out alone at nightNever walk or take
a trishaw and never accept a lift from a stranger, but hire a cab from a reputable
company. You may find yourself the victim of opportunistic groping on a crowded
bus or train. Deal with this by drawing attention to the perpetrator and his
actions. Be wary of the male who sits beside you when there are plenty of seats
elsewhere. Your refusal or reluctance to move away will be interpreted as an
invitation to take matters further.
Travellers with Disabilities
Sri Lanka is not well equipped for those with physical disabilities. Only a few
of the five-star hotels have access and facilities for people in wheelchairs
-public transport has none, so a car and driver is essential. Consult your travel
agent for more information.
Childran
Sri Lankans adore children and make a great deal of fuss over them -travelling
with children is therefore a good way of meeting locals. Children are well catered
for in restaurants, and hotels and guest houses often have family rooms. Baby
food and nappies are available in major supermarkets but are very expensive.
Good baby bottles are hard to find, so bring these with you. Cotton Children
Clothing is easily available.
