Help is just a call away!
In case of a health emergency or danger, you can contact the following emergency services using any phone (landline or mobile):
Emergency Services | Telephone Number |
|---|---|
Emergency Medical & Ambulance Service | 1990 |
Police Emergency | 119 |
Fire and Rescue | 110 |
Tourist Police Landline | 011-2421052 |
Police Emergency Landline | 011-2433333 |
Accident Service – General Hospital Colombo Landline | 011-2691111 |
Familiarise yourself with local customs and etiquette to ensure a respectful and enjoyable visit. Stay updated on travel advisories and local news during your stay.
Here are some useful Sinhala and Tamil phrases to help you get around and communicate during your visit to Sri Lanka.
English | Sinhala | Tamil |
Hello / Hi | ආයුබෝවන් (Ayubowan) | வணக்கம் (Vanakkam) |
Thank you | ස්තුතියි (Sthu-thi-yi) | நன்றி (Nandri) |
Please | කරුණාකර (Karunākara) | தயவு செய்து (Thayavu Seithu) |
Yes | ඔව් (Ow) | ஆம் (Aam) |
No | නැහැ (Næhæ) | இல்லை (Illai) |
Okay | හරි (Hari) | சரி (Sari) |
English | Sinhala | Tamil |
How much is this? | මෙක කීයද? (Meka kee-yada?) | இது எவ்வளவு? (Idhu evvalavu?) |
Can you help me? | ඔයාට මට උදව් කරන්න පුළුවන්ද? (Oyata mata udav karanna puluvanda?) | எனக்கு உதவ முடியுமா? (Enakku udhava mudiyumaa?) |
I don’t understand | මට තේරෙන්නේ නැහැ (Mata therenne næhæ) | எனக்கு புரியவில்லை (Enakku puriyavillai) |
Do you speak English? | ඔයා ඉංග්රීසි කතා කරනවාද? (Oya Ingrisi kata karanawada?) | நீங்கள் English பேசுவீர்களா? (Nīṅkaḷ English pēcuvīrkaḷā?) |
What is your name? | ඔයාගේ නම කුමක්ද? (Oyage nama mokakda?) | உங்களது பெயர் என்ன? (Unkalatu peyar enna?) |
My name is… | මගේ නම … (Mage nama …) | என் பெயர் … (Eṉ peyar…) |
English | Sinhala | Tamil |
Where is the bus/train station? | බස්/දුම්රිය නැවතුම කොහෙද? (Bus/dumriya nævatuma koheda?) | பஸ்/ரயில் நிலையம் எங்கே? (Pas/rayil nilaiyam eṅkē?) |
Left / Right / Straight | වම / දකුණ / කෙලින්ම (Wama / Dakuna / Kelinma) | இடது / வலது / நேராக (Iṭatu/ valatu/ nērāka) |
Stop here | මෙතන නවත්වන්න (Metana navatvanna) | இங்கு நிறுத்துங்கள் (Ingu niruthungal) |
