1. Colombo City Map
2. Colombo City Climate
Colombo features a tropical monsoon climate under the Köppen climate classification, falling just short of a tropical rainforest climate. Colombo’s climate is fairly temperate all throughout the year. From March to April the average high temperature is around 31 °C (87.8 °F) The only major change in the Colombo weather occurs during the monsoonseasons from May to August and October to January. This is the time of year where heavy rains can be expected. Colombo sees little relative diurnal range of temperature, although this is more marked in the drier winter months, where minimum temperatures average 22 °C (71.6 °F). Rainfall in the city averages around 2,400 millimetres (94 in) a year.
3.Sri Lankan Currency
The official unit of Sri Lankan currency is known as the ‘Sri Lankan Rupees’ or LKR, and is subdivided in to 100 cents. Just like any another main currency in the world, the Sri Lankan rupee is available in coins and notes. Coins come in denominations of 5, 10, 25 and 50 cents and one, two, five and 10 rupees. Notes are available in denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000 rupees and the government recently printed the 2000 and 5000 rupee notes, which are also widely available. The Central Bank of Sri Lanka has the sole right and authority to issue currency in Sri Lanka.
When you change money, break down larger notes like anything more than 500 rupees in to small notes and coins, since most vendors never seem to have change. If you are travelling by bus or planning to go street shopping, it is always better to have a few extra coins
How to exchange foreign currency?
Foreign currency can be exchanged starting from the Bandaranaike International Airport and from all the local and international banks and also from main hotels and authorised exchangers found all over the city.
Foreign currency regulations
Visitors to Sri Lanka bringing in more than US$10,000 should declare the amount to the Customs on arrival. All unspent rupees converted from foreign currencies can be re-converted to the original currency on departure as long as encashment receipts can be produced.
Source: http://www.srilanka.travel (Travel Tips)
4. Banks and ATMs
Banks
Banks are open from 0900 hrs to 1300 hours Monday to Friday. Some banks close at 1500 hrs, while some banks are open on Saturday mornings. You can withdraw money from ATMs using international credit cards or debit cards.
Bank ATM
The city of Colombo has a wide range of local and international banks. ATM’s are available in all bank branches and specific public locations such as main shopping malls and other authorized locations.
You can use you Visa and/or MasterCard in most ATM’S. However, as different banks accept different cards, we advise you to ensure that your card is valid for use in Sri Lanka by contacting your bank.
5. Languages used in Colombo
Sinhala and Tamil are the main two languages used in Sri Lanka and English is considered as the secondary language in the country. Majority of people in Colombo has a quit a good knowledge of English and very helpful to assist at anytime
6. To & From the Airport
Completion of the Colombo–Katunayake Expressway has greatly reduced travel time between Bandaranaike International Airport and the city. From its start 4km northeast of Fort at Kelani Bridge, you can reach the airport in 30 minutes. Unfortumnately the city streets remain as congensted as ever during the day so add plenty of time for navigating Colombo itself. Avoid the old Colombo–Negombo Rd as it can take up to two hours.
Bus Fast airport buses using the expressway depart from Central Bus Station around the clock, take about 45 minutes and cost Rs 130. At the airport you’ll find buses in the parking lot at the far left end of the terminal as you exit the arrivals hall.
Car You can arrange an airport car with most Colombo-area hotels for Rs 3000 to Rs 5000. Hotels as far as Galle and beyond also often arrange airport transport. Drivers will meet you in the arrivals area of the airport.
Taxi You can book a car into Colombo (or elsewhere in Sri Lanka) at the desks when you arrive in the arrivals hall. Or you can use the hassle-free taxi service outside. Rides cost Rs 2600 to about Rs 3200 depending on where you are going in Colombo. Be sure to specify you want to use the expressway and pay the Rs 300 toll.
Colombo’s New Expressways
New expressways are greatly speeding up travel times to and from Colombo, although traffic jams on local roads can still greatly slow journeys until the network is done. The three new toll roads are:
- Southern Expressway This 161km highway links Colombo’s southern suburbs with Galle and Matara.
- Colombo–Katunayake Expressway Running some 25km from the airport to a point 4km northeast of Fort, this has dramatically cut travel times.
- Outer Circular Expressway This beltway will link the Colombo–Katunayake Expressway with the Southern Expressway, putting Galle within two hours of the airport. It is opening in sections and should be complete by 2018.
Colombo City 