|
|
| Home > Travel > |
Sri Lanka FAQ - Monthly posting to soc.culture.sri-lanka |
Section 1 of 3 - Prev - Next
All sections - 1 - 2 - 3
Archive-name: sri-lanka-faq
Soc-culture-sri-lanka-archive-name: sri-lanka-faq
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) list on Sri Lanka
Last update: November 16, 1995
[ If you have access to WWW tools such as Mosaic or Netscape,
my suggestion to you is to read all the FAQs via the URLs
http://www.smartpages.com/faqs
http://www.cis.ohio-state.edu/hypertext/faq/usenet
as it these sites contain all the usenet FAQs in HTML format. ]
This list should not be construed as an endorsement of any of the
products or services mentioned herein. I will take no responisibily
for hardships caused due to incorrect or inaccurate, or even accurate
information presented. Those who wish to use the information are
strongly encouraged to use common sense and consumer doubts if and
when applicable.
I have tried not to list any illegal or illicit activities. If the
services or persons mentioned here are engaged in such activities,
it is by their own discretion. I neither endorese nor condone such
activities.
If you think that the scope of this FAQ should be expanded by adding
more questions and/or answers, please do contribute. Your contributions
will make this document more useful.
You may freely distribute this FAQ list as long as:
(a) This notice is attached to the full or partial FAQ list
(b) You do not make money (or other equivalent compensation)
by doing so (other than nominal distribution charges -- if
you include this FAQ in a CD-ROM, I would appreciate if you
send me a copy of the CD-ROM)
I would like to thank everyone who helped me in the compilation process.
Compilation (c) Copyright Prasad Dharmasena
=======================================================================
=======================================================================
Administrative: <0 - 9>
<0> What the heck is a FAQ?
<1> How do I get the latest copy of this FAQ?
<2> How do I make changes to the information in the FAQ?
<3> Thank You!
General Information on Sri Lanka: <10 - 19>
<10> Where is Sri Lanka? What are the general information?
<11> How do I get tourist information on Sri Lanka?
<12> So what's so great about Sri Lanka?
<13> Tourist Hotel information?
<14> What does Sri Lanka mean?
<15> What is the Civil War in Sri Lanka?
Passports/Visas/Immigration/etc: <20 - 29>
<20> Where are the Embassies of Sri Lanka?
<21> What/Where are the Embassies in Sri Lanka?
<22> How do I get my Sri Lankan passport renewed?
<23> What are the US Immigration announcement phone numbers?
<24> Does Sri Lanka allow dual citizenship?
Electronic/Computer/Network related: <30 - 39>
<30> What are the electronic forums on Sri Lanka?
+ <31> Does Sri Lanka have e-mail?
+ <32> Are there Sri Lanka related FTP/Web/Gopher sites?
<33> Are there any Sinhala fonts?
<34> Are there any Tamil fonts?
<35> Are there Sinhala/Tamil word/text processors?
News: <40 - 49>
<40> What are the Sri Lankan publications in my country?
+ <41> Can we get Sri Lankan newspapers outside of SL?
<42> Are there any Sri Lankan radio programs outside of SL?
<43> What are the SLBC shortwave frequencies?
+ <44> What are the BBC frequencies for North America?
<45> What are the All India Radio frequencies?
Services and general information <50 - 69>
<50> Are there any Sri Lanka related organizations?
<51> Who's the best airline ticket agent?
+ <52> From where do I get Sri Lankan Cookbooks and spices?
<53> Are there any Sri Lankan restaurants outside of Sri Lanka?
<54> How do I get my wedding tape converted from PAL to NTSC?
<55> How do I send flowers to SL?
<56> How do I send money to and from SL?
<57> How do I send misc big items to and from SL?
<58> What about parcels to SL?
Misc.
<70> Are there any quality books on Sri Lanka?
<71> Where's the info about SL stock market?
<72> Is there a "Study Abroad" program for Sri Lanka?
=======================================================================
=======================================================================
Subject: <0> What the heck is a FAQ?
FAQ stands for Frequently Asked Questions. This FAQ list tries to answer
some of the commonly questions about matters pertaining to Sri Lanka.
You can find a multitude of FAQs on various subjects from the two
ftp and http sites listed in the answer to the next question.
Some newsreaders will allow you to go to the next subject with a ^G.
Else, do a search on the string "" to go to the question numbered xy.
--
=======================================================================
Subject: <1> How do I get the latest copy of this FAQ?
I will try to post an updated copy of this on soc.culture.sri-lanka
newsgroup on or around every 13th of the month.
You may FTP a copy of this FAQ from the usual FAQ archive.
ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet/news.answers/sri-lanka-faq
An up-to-date copy of this FAQ file can also be obtained by sending an
e-mail to with the subject line containing the
words "send sri-lanka-faq" (no quotes). (If you are in Thailand, you may
send the same e-mail request to ) I will try
(try being the keyword here) to update the list once a month. So, if
your copy of the FAQ has a date which is within the last 30 days,
chances are that you *are* reading the latest version.
--
This FAQ is also available on World Wide Web at the following URLs
http://www.smartpages.com/faqs/sri-lanka-faq/faq.html
http://www.cis.ohio-state.edu/hypertext/faq/usenet/sri-lanka-faq/faq.html
--
This and other FAQs are also available on certain commercial CD-ROMs
that advertise as having the Internet FAQs. (ie: "Destination
Internet" [Phone: (800)835-5514] for the Mac)
--
=======================================================================
Subject: <2> How do I make changes to the information in the FAQ?
If you find any errors, omissions, or otherwise incorrect information,
please point them out to me. Your feedback is very important and will
be greatly appreciated.
--
=======================================================================
Subject: <3> Thank You!
A lot of people have sent me information. I tried to keep a note
on everyone who helped, but I may have forgotten some. Please excuse
my aging mind.... "Dave, my mind is going.... I can feel it"
Here are the folks who have sent information for this FAQ. My sincere
thanks to each and every one of you. Without your help, this FAQ would
not have been possible.
Thushara Amaranayaka
Cate Carroll
Tom David
Wijesuriya Dayawansa
Ian "Jack" Dempsey
Gamini Dharmasena
Erik Futtrup
Nimal Gamage
Kumudu Jayatilaka
Klaus Kettner
Tawnya Kumarakulasingam
Lal Kuruppu
Ajith P Madurapperuma
Shahani Markus
Sue Moro
Mano Pallewatta
Castus Peiris
Vicumpriya Perara
Gihan Seneviratne
Shantha Ranatunga
Kavan Ratnatunga
Harsha Ratnaweera
L. Salgado
Michael S. Samuel
Rasika Suriyaarachchi
Thiviyanathan Varatharasa
Wije Wathugala
Lareef Zubair
=======================================================================
=======================================================================
Subject: <10> Where is Sri Lanka? What are the general information?
More information can be found on CIA world fact book
http://www.ic.gov/94fact/country/223.html (includes a map)
Sri Lanka is an island in the Indian Ocean southeast of the Indian
sub-continent. Sri Lanka belongs to the South Asia sub category.
Location: Latitude 5'55" - 9'51"
Longitude 79'42" - 81'52"
29 Km southeast of India
Length: 432Km (270 miles)
Width: 224Km (140 miles)
Area: 65,610 Sq.Km. (25,332 sq.miles)
Landarea: 65,610 Sq.Km.
Full Name: Democratic Socialist Repubic of Sri Lanka.
Short: Sri Lanka
Former: Ceylon, Taprobane, Serendib (see below)
Suggest: Sri Lankan Union of Territories :-)
Capital: Sri Jayawardenapura
Commercial Center: Colombo
International Airport: Colombo (Katunayake)
Intl Seaport: Colombo
Literacy Rate: 87%+
Total Population: 18 million
Labor force: 6.6 million
Population growth rate: 1.2%
Life expectancy: 68 (male), 73 (Female)
Infant Mortality: 22.8 deaths / 1000 live births
Climate: Tropical
Monsoon Seasons: northeast monsoon (December to March)
southwest monsoon (June to October)
Average temps Max C(F) Min C(F) Elevation m(ft)
Colombo 30.4(87.7) 24.0(75.2) 0(0)
Kandy 28.7(83.7) 20.2(68.4) 305(1000)
Nuwara Eliya 20.2(68.4) 11.4(52.5) 1890(6200)
Languages: Sinhala (74%), Tamil (25%?), English (20%)
Ethnic div: Sinhalese (74%), Tamil (18%), Moor 7%, Burgher, Malay, ...
Religions: Buddhists (69%), Hindu (15%), Christian (8%), Muslim (8%)
Currency : Sri Lanakan Rupee (US$1 ~= Rs. 50), Rs.1 = 100 cents
Banknotes: 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, 1000 Rupees
Coins : 1, 2, 5, 10, 25, 50 Cents
1, 2, 5, 10 Rupees
Government:
Executive: Elected President (Mrs. Chandrika B. Kumaratunga)
Prime Minister (Mrs. Sirima Bandaranayake, CBK's mother)
Cabinet - appointed by Prez from the Parliament
Legislative: Elected Parliament
Judicial: Supreme Court
GDP (1992): $7.75 billion (est)
per capita: $440 (est)
inflation: 10%
unemployment: 15%
Telephone Country code for Sri Lanka: 94 (From US, Europe, Australia?)
Time Difference: GMT +0530 hrs
--
=======================================================================
Subject: <11> How do I get tourist information on Sri Lanka?
Book: Lonely Planet Travel Survival Kit, Sri Lanka
Language: English
5th Edition, 1993
ISBN: 0-86442-169-9
--
Book: Insight Guides - Sri Lanka
Language: English
APA Publications
--
Book: Sri Lanka Reise Know-How
Language: German
Author: Rainer Krack
1st Edition, 11/93
ISBN: 3-89416-170-1
--
** Sri Lanka
Ceylon Tourist Board Travel Information Center
78 Steuart Place c/o Ceylon Tourist Board
Colombo 3 72 Victoria Drive
Sri Lanka Kandy, Sri Lanka
Tel: +94(1)437059, 437060 Tel: +94(8)22661
437952, 437954/5
Dept of Wildlife Conservation Cultural Triangle Office
82 Rajamalwatte Road 212/1 Bauddhaloka Mawatha
Battaramulla, Sri Lanka Colombo 7, Sri Lanka
Tel: +94(1)867086 Tel: +94(1)587912, 500733
[Note: 94 is the country code for Sri Lanka]
--
** Australia
Ceylon Tourist Board W.Au office F. P Leonard Advertising Pte Ltd.
439 Albany Highway 241 Abercrombie Street
Victoria Park Chippendale
West Australia 6100 NSW Australia 2008
Tel:(09)362-4579 Tel: (02)698-5266
--
** Germany ** Denmark
Sri Lanka Tourist Board - Eu. Office Ceylon Touristrad
Allerheiligentor 2-4 Sollerodgardavej 38
60311 Frankfurt Main D K 2840 Holte
Kaiserstrasse 13
Germany
Tel: +49-69-287734, 288371
--
** Japan ** Thailand
Tourist Board Representative Ceylon (Sri Lanka) Tourist Board
AMO 1/18 Soi 10
2/1 Atago 1-chome Sukhumvit Road
Minato-ku, Tokyo Bangkok, Thailand
Nippon
Tel:433-6377, 433-6378
--
** USA ** UK
Ceylon (Sri Lanka) Tourist Board Ceylon (Sri Lanka) Tourist Board
609 Fifth Avenue, Suite 308 52 High Holborn
New York, NY 10017, USA London WC1V 6RI
Tel:(212)935-0369 Tel: 01-405-1194
--
Contact the nearest Sri Lankan embassy/high commission/consulate/
and/or Air Lanka office. (Addrs/phone are elsewhere in this FAQ)
--
=======================================================================
Subject: <12> So what's so great about Sri Lanka?
Famous sci-fi writer Arthur C. Clarke, who resides in the island, once
wrote "It may well be that each of Sri Lanka's attractions is surpassed
somewhere on Earth; Cambodia may have more impressive ruins, Tahiti
lovelier beaches, Bali more beautiful landscapes (though I doubt it),
Thailand more charming people (ditto). But I find it hard to believe
that there is any country which scores so highly in all departments -
which has so many advantages and so few disadvantages, especially for
the western visitor."
For a country of that size (about the size of West Virginia or
Ireland) things one can do are amazing: surfing, wind surfing, scuba
diving, rock/mountain climbing, searching for ancient ruins, wildlife,
corral reefs, gemstones, spices, rituals, ...
read: trip reports archived on
ftp://amil.eng.buffalo.edu/pub/slnet/
ftp://ftp.cc.umanitoba.ca/rec-travel/
--
National Parks in Sri Lanka: 10 % of Sri Lanka's land is protected
as national parks. The most important parks are:
* Bundala Bird Sanctuary (between Hambantota and Kataragama)
* Gal Oya National Park (north of Yala)
* Horton Plains Nature Reserve (in the southwestern mountains)
* Lahugala National Park (west of Pottuvil)
* Uda Walawe National Park (near Hambantota)
* Udawattakele Wildlife Sanctuary (northeast of Kandy)
* Peak Wilderness Man and Biosphere Reserve (at Adams Peak)
* Singharaja Rain Forest Reserve (between Ratnapura and Matara)
* Wilpattu National Park (northeast area of Sri Lanka)
* Wirawila Bird Sanctuary (near Tissamaharama)
* Yala National Park (near Tissamaharama)
* Kumana Bird Sanctuary (part of Yala)
--
Colombo: All the modern inconveniences such as fax machines, cellular
phones. Arguably, the largest city in the country and home to the
richest and the poorest. Most people speak a strange dialect of
English. Not being from the area, my advise is this: "Leave
Immediately." ;-)
Kandy: Still has good spots. But try and go see the country side.
Colombo-Kandy trip via the train is highly recommended. So is
Peradeniya Botanical gardens. Peradeniya campus, one of the best
looking campuses in the world, is nearby. Try not to get ragged. See
Colombo.
Kandy Parade: "Perahera" starts on Full Moon day of July and lasts for 11
days. Elephants , traditonal dancers, drummers, "Gini Keli" (fireworks-
no, not the July 4th stuff), etc.
Mt. Piduruthalagala: Because it's there. Highest mountain top. 8100+ft.
May need hiking pass from Colombo Tourist Info. (High Secutiry area
because radio/TV antennas at the top)
World's End: Near Horton Plains. "Yo dude, sky diving off of this
cliff's gonna be super cool, man." "A most excellent idea, dude."
Yala/Kumana: National Park/Bird Sanctuary. Can stay overnight. No Camping.
Guided tours on vehicles. Chances of seeing wild elephants, leopards
are good. (reservations: wildlife dept.)
Wilpatthu: Larger than Yala and has more leopards. However, maybe a
security risk due to the fightings between LTTE and govt forces.
Katharagama: Religious place Buddhist/Hindu. Crack a coconut on god's stone.
See fire walks, needles through the cheeks (face!).
Anuradhaputa, Polonnaruwa, etc: Religious/Cultural/Historical. See the ruins.
Excavate your own. Ancient artwork in temples.
Beaches: The beach is always less than 70 miles away. No crowds, even on
long weekends. Plenty of free parking.
Adam's Peak: Religious/Adventurous. Said to have a 6 feet long foot
print of Adam/Buddha/Allah/David Koresh. At sun rise, you can see the
sun jumping up and down taking a bow or is it a bath? Top is 7500+ feet. ??
Zoo: Dehiwala (suburb of Colombo) Zoo is one of the best in the world.
Pinnawala: Elephant orphanage. How to catch a wild elephant in ....
Dambulla: `gala uding "coming water" thamba ha^liyata ta~ng ta~ng.'
Ancient artwork on the walls of seven caves. Buddhist temple.
Sigiriya: See the ancient erotica. Gaffiti? We invented it.
("King Kashyapa slept here" "with ....?")
--
=======================================================================
Subject: <13> Tourist Hotel information?
Here are some five star hotel addresses and phone numbers. There are
many low cost accomodations available. Please consult travel guides.
Colombo: (Telephone area code is 1 (01 if dialed within SL)
-------
Holiday Inn - 30 Sir Mohamed M. Marker Mawatha, Colombo 3
Tel: 422001, Fax: 447977
Hotel Ceylon Intercontinental - 48 Janadhipathi mawatha, Colombo 1
Tel: 421221, Fax: 447326
Oberoi- 77 Steuart place, Colomb 3
Ramada - 115 Sir Chitampalam Gardiner mawatha, Colombo 2
Taj Samudra - 25 Galle face Center Rd. Colombo 3
Tel: 446622, Fax: 546348
Galle Face Hotel - 2 Kollupitiya Rd. Colomb 3
Taprobane - York st. Colombo 1
Colombo Marriott - 64 Echelon sq. Colombo 1
Colombo Renaissance - 115 Sir Chittampalam A., Gardiner Mw. Col.2
Tel. 544200, Fax. 449184
Hotel Galadari - 64 Lotus Road, Col.1
Tel. 544544, Fax. 449875
Colombo Hilton - Lotus Road, Echolon Square, Col.1
Tel. 544644, Fax. 544657
Kandy: (area code is 8, or 08 if dialed in SL)
-----
Queens Hotel - Dalada veediya, kandy (08) 22121
Casamara - 12 kotugodella veediya, kandy (08) 24051
--
Check ftp://amil.eng.buffalo.edu/pub/slnet/info/sl-hotels
See <32> for more info about this FTP site.
--
=======================================================================
<14> What does Sri Lanka mean?
Sri Lanka was known as Ceylon, Serendib, Taprobane, etc....
[ Following section was compiled by Lareef Zubair ]
Etymologies of Lanka, Serendib, Taprobane and Ceylon.
There is only one credible theory for the origin of the name `Ceylon'.
One starts with the Pali for the `Place of Jewels', which is Sihalam
goes thro Senendiva (diva for island) and Silandiva, becomes Serendib
in Arabic (which incidentally does not mean anything in colloquial
New England Arabic) and is contracted to Cilao by the Portuguese and to
Zeilan or Ceilan by the Dutch and to Ceylon by the British.
Admittedly, the reasoning and linkages are thin.
Horace Walpole wrote the fairy tale named the `three princes of
serendib' in which the heroes have the faculty of making happy and
unexpected discoveries by accident. Then a cabal of slnetters used
serendipity for the name of their journal but their reports on the
serendipitious discovery of the Vallipuram Buddha statue has
been anything but happy.
Then there is the Taprobane used by Milton in Paradise Lost, borrowed
from the accounts of Alexander the Great's officers who heard reports of
the island when in West Asia and from Greek and Ceylonese travellers.
Taprobane is supposed to have originated from the `copper colored'
(Tamba Vanna in Sanskrit) soil of the place at which Vijaya's
retinue landed. They called their capital Tambapanni.
The name (Sri) Lanka was first recorded in the Ramayana and means
`resplendent land' in sanskrit. There are other names, including the
Tamil Ilanare etc, the Arabic `Tenerisim' (the isle of delight), the
Chinese `Pa-outchow' (the isle of gems), and the `salike' of Ptolemy.
Some theologians (Christian and Muslim) thought that Noahs ark came to
rest on Serendib. Also when Adam and Eve were thrown out off the
garden of Eden for fornication, it was thought appropriate to banish
them to this island.
Then there is the Sinbad character in the Arabian nights supposed to be
based on early Arab travellers and there is a description in the Sixth
Voyage of Sinbad (`the diamonds are in its rivers and the pearls are in
its valleys and Adams peak contains rubies and spice trees' - This must
explain the hordes who go there). In 1250 AD, Marco Polo found both men
and women of Zeilan nude except for a cloth around the middle part of
their bodies and wrote that they ate wine from trees - (must be ra, no?).
Sources
1) Zeylanicus, `Ceylon, between Orient and Occident'
2) J.R. Sinnatamby, `Ceylon in Ptolemy's Geography', Colombo 1968
3) H.A.J. Hulugalle, `Ceylon of the Early Travellers', Colombo 1965
4) A.J. Tresidder, `Ceylon; an introduction to the resplendent land'
Van Nostrand, 1960
--
=======================================================================
Subject: <15> What is the Civil War in Sri Lanka?
There is a long standing ethnic crisis in the country among
Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims. A Tamil militant group, Liberation
Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), is fighting with the government forces
in the north and east parts of the island.
It is beyond the scope of this FAQ to give details about the ethnic
crisis or how ethnic tensions have escallated into a civil war. It is
suggested that information be obtained from multiple sources.
[Please suggest good reading material]
--
** Human rights and Civil War related issues around the world are archived
as an independent effort by Martin Hogan
http://www.essex.ac.uk/law/human-rights/COUNTRIES/SRI-LANKA/
--
** Tamil Eelam Home page -- a view from the TE proponents. Maintained
by Rudrakodeswaran N. Janahan
http://uts.cc.utexas.edu/~janahan/tamil.html
--
** This list of publications suggested by Lal Kuruppu in Australia.
De Silva, K.M. Managing ethnic tensions in multi-ethnic societies: Sri
Lanka 1880-1985. Lanham, MD:University Press of America, 1986.
De Silva, K.M. Problems of governance. Delhi: Konark Publishers, 1993
De Silva, K.M. Traditional homelands of the tamils: separatist ideology in
Sri lanka, a historical appraisal. Revised 2nd edition. Kandy:
International Centrte for Ethnic Studies, 1994
Tambiah, Stanley J. Buddhism betrayed: religion, politics and violence in
Sri lanka. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1992
Tambiah, Stanley J. Sri Lanka: ethnic fratricide and the dismantling of
democracy. Chicago: Univ. of Chicago Press, 1986
Spencer, jonathan (ed) Sri lanka: history and roots of conflict.
London:Routledge, 1990
Wilson, A.J. Break-up of Sri lanka: the Sinaha Tamil conflict. Lnodon:
Hurst, 1988
Abeysekera, Charles and Gunasinghe, Newton (ed) Facets of ethnicity in Sri
Lanka. Colombo: Sovial Scientists Association, 1987
McGowan, William. Only man is vile: the tragedy of Sri lanka.
London:Picador, 1994
For news, analysis and comments on the current developments I suggest
Lanka Guardian, Tamil Times, Far Eastern Economic Review, and India Today
=======================================================================
=======================================================================
Subject: <20> Where are the Embassies of Sri Lanka?
If you are visiting Sri Lanka, you may want to find out about the visa
requirements from the closest embassy. If you are going to spend an
extended period in the island, you will need a visa. [Penalties for
carrying of illegal narcotics into the country are severe]
** Australia
High Commission of Sri Lanka Consulate of Sri Lanka
35 Empire Circuit 191 Clarence St., 7th Fl.
Forrest, Canberra ACT 2603 Sydney, NSW 2000
Tel: (06)239-7041/2 Tel: (2)262-5944
Fax: (6)239-6166 Fax: (2)290-2335
--
** Canada ** Germany
Walter E. Fernando Embassy of Sri Lanka
High Commission of Sri Lanka Rolandstrasse 52
333 Laurier Ave. West, #1204 53179 Bonn
Ottawa, Ontario Tel: (0228)332055
Tel: (613)223-8440/9
Fax: (613)238-8448
--
** India
High Commission Consulate Consulate
27 Kautilya Marg 9D Nawab Habibullah Ave Sri Lanka House
Chanakyapuri Anderson Road 34 Homi Mody Street
New Delhi 110021 Madras 600006 Bombay 400023
Tel: 3010201 Tel: 470831 Tel: 2045861
--
** Singapore ** Thailand
Sri Lanka High Commission Embassy of Sri Lanka
51 Goldhill Plaza 89 Sukumvit Soi 15
1307-1312 Newton Road Bangkok 10110
Singapore 1130 Thailand
Tel: 2544595 Tel: +66(2)251-2788,9
--
** UK
Sri Lanka High Commission
13 Hyde Park Gardens
London W2 2LU
Tel: 071-262 1841
--
** USA
Embassy of Sri Lanka Sri Lanka Mission to the UN
2148 Wyoming Avenue, NW 630 Third Avenue, 20th Floor
Washington, DC 20008 New York, NY 10017
(202)483-4025 (212)986-7040
(202)483-4028 (212)986-1838 (Fax)
(202)232-7181 (Fax)
Passport Office: Ext. 120
--
--
** Sri Lanka
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Republic Building
Colombo 1
Sri Lanka
Tel: (1)325371
Fax: (1)446091
--
=======================================================================
Subject: <21> What/Where are the Embassies in Sri Lanka?
Australian High Commission Canadian High Commission
3 Cambridge Place 6 Gregory's Road
Colombo 7 Colombo 7
Tel: (1)698767 thru 69 Tel: (1)694851 thru 53
Fax: (1)686453, 698332 Fax: (1)687049
--
French Embassy German Embassy
89 Rosmead Place 40 Alfred House Avenue
Colombo 7 Colombo 3
Tel: (1)698815, 699750,1 Tel: (1)580431 thru 34
Fax: (1)580440
--
Indian High Commission Japanese Embassy
36-38 Galle Road 20 Gregory's Road
Colombo 3 Colombo 7
Tel: 421605, 422788,9 Tel:(1)693831 thru 33, 698628
Fax: 446403 692154, 693015
Fax: 698629
--
Norwegian Embassy Netherland, Embassy of
34 Ward Place 25 Torrington Avenue
Colombo 7 Colombo 7
Tel: (1)698936, 692263, Tel: (1)589626 thru 28
699457, 687534 Fax: (1)502855
Fax: (1)695009
--
Switzerland Embassy Swedish Embassy
68 Gregory's Road 315 Vauxhall Street
Colombo 7 Colombo 2
Tel: (1)695117, 695127 Tel: (1)328822, 329261
695148, 695176
--
UK High Commission
190 Galle Road
Colombo 3
Tel: (1)437336 thru 43
Fax: (1)437344
USA
Amb: Mrs. Teresita C. Schaffer Sri Lanka Desk US Info. Service
Embassy of the United States Department of State 44 Galle Road
210 Galle Road 21st and C streets Colombo 3
Colombo 3 Washignton, DC 20551 Tel (1)421271
Sri Lanka USA Fax (1)449070
Tel:(01)448007, 421271 Tel: (202)647-1450
Fax:(01)437345
--
=======================================================================
Subject: <22> How do I get my Sri Lankan passport renewed?
There are two types of renewals.
(1) If your passport is less than 10 years old, you can simply renew
the existing one.
(2) If the passport is more than 10 years old (ie. it has been renewed
once before) OR it has run out of pages (stop traveling so much)
then you have to obtain a new passport.
Naturally, there are two types of forms that you have to fill out. (I
guess one form with two boxes to tick off makes too much sense.) So
when you call the embassy, (phone numbers are under <20>) be specific.
You may also need to give them the National ID number and the current
passport number before they can send you the form. Why? Why ask why?
There is a $130 surcharge for getting a new passport through the SL embassy
in Washington DC as they have to send the paperwork to Sri Lanka. As far
as I know, the five-year renewal doesn't cost this outrageous $130. If
you get your passport renewed in Sri Lanka, there is no $130 surchage.
Your mileage may vary for SL embassies in other countries.
For emergencies, the embassy can issue an one-time temporary passport
which is good only to enter Sri Lanka. You will have to obtain a regular
passport while in SL. Moreover, you may have problems of getting visas
(ie: transit visa -- to have the privilage of sitting on a lousy chair at
Charles de Gaulle airport.) with this temporary passport.
To get a new passport for a lost/stolen passport, you are required to
send a police report, national ID and/or original birth certificate
and/or citizenship certificate, documents to prove the legality of your
stay in the country (valid visa)... etc.
For more info, call the embassy. See <20>
--
It is possible to renew your passport directly from SL while you are
out of SL. Cost Rs. 1000.00 (takes one week) or Rs. 2000.00 (same
day service).
1. a letter stating why you need it so fast.
2. Affidavit stating that the bearer will handle all the passport
related matters on your behalf. (state his national ID number)
3. If you need to express mail (courier), need permission from
Emmigration and Immigration dept.
4. Will need National ID, birth certificate, etc, as per
application requirements.
5. May need certified proof of your identity. (AttornyAtLaw, JP)
--
[ Okay, can someone send his/her old passport to Sri Lanka and get a
new one? Can you send it to the passport office? Is it cheaper to
send it to a relative and ask him/her to take it and get it renewed?
Or does the passport owner absolutely *has* to be in Sri Lanka before
they can renew the passport? ]
--
I hear that all the Kachcheri's can do passport work now. Please confirm.
--
=======================================================================
Section 1 of 3 - Prev - Next
All sections - 1 - 2 - 3
| Back to category Travel - Use Smart Search |
| Home - Smart Search - About the project - Feedback |
© allanswers.org | Terms of use