🇱🇰
Essential apps for
Sri Lanka
ශ්රී ලංකා
Sinhala, Tamil, EnglishLKR5 apps
PickMe is the local rideshare — much better than Uber for tuk-tuks and small cars. WhatsApp is essential for hotels and guides.
🔌
Power & Plug
TypeD / G
Voltage230V
Freq50Hz
Indian-style + British plugs both common.
💬
Basic phrases
Sinhala
- Helloආයුබෝවන්ayubowan
- Thank youස්තූතියිsthoothi
- Excuse me / Sorryසමාවෙන්නsamaawenna
- Yesඔව්ow
- Noනැහැnaehae
+10 more below
🎎
Tipping
Tipping is customary but modest; many restaurants add a 10% service charge, and a small extra tip is welcome. Tip drivers, guides, and hotel staff a few hundred rupees for good service.
🚖Rideshare & Taxi
See all →🗺️Navigation & Maps
See all →📱Messaging
See all →Phrases
All Sinhala phrases
Hello
ආයුබෝවන්
ayubowan
Thank you
ස්තූතියි
sthoothi
Excuse me / Sorry
සමාවෙන්න
samaawenna
Yes
ඔව්
ow
No
නැහැ
naehae
Please
කරුණාකර
karunaakara
Goodbye
ආයුබෝවන්
ayubowan
How much?
කීයද?
keeyada
Where is the bathroom?
වැසිකිළිය කොහෙද?
waesikiliya koheda
The check, please
කරුණාකර බිල ගේන්න
karunaakara bila genna
I don't understand
මට තේරෙන්නේ නැහැ
mata therenne naehae
Do you speak English?
ඔයා ඉංග්රීසි කතා කරනවාද?
oyaa ingreesi kathaa karanawaada
Help!
උදව් කරන්න!
udaw karanna
Delicious
රසයි
rasai
Cheers
චියර්ස්
cheers
Briefing
What to know before you go
✓ Do
- Remove your shoes and hats before entering temples and homes
- Dress modestly at temples; cover shoulders and knees and wear white if possible
- Use your right hand for eating, giving, and receiving
- Never turn your back on a Buddha statue when posing for photos
- Eat with your right hand when sharing traditional rice-and-curry meals
- Greet people with 'Ayubowan' and a slight bow with palms together
✕Don't
- Don't pose for photos touching or with your back to Buddha statues
- Don't get tattoos of the Buddha or wear Buddha images on clothing, which can lead to deportation
- Don't point your feet at people or religious images
- Don't show public displays of affection at sacred sites
⚠️ Common scams to know
- Tuk-tuk drivers without meters quoting inflated fares or taking you to commission shops
- 'Helpful' strangers steering you to gem shops, then collecting a commission
- Fake or low-grade gemstones sold as valuable sapphires
- Temple touts demanding 'donations' or fees for entry that should be free
Going elsewhere?