Sri Lanka: practical guide and useful addresses

Identity card

Le Sri Lanka resembles a large drop detached from the Indian subcontinent, from which it is separated by just 48 km. The island, which is 435 km long and 225 km wide, is home to 21 million people, 70% of whom are Buddhist.

For 30 years, the Hindu "Tamil Tigers" clashed with the government, plunging the country into a civil war that only ended three years ago. With peace restored, tourists are now returning to the former Ceylon.

Many visit the sites of its "cultural triangle" in the central mountains, before ending their trip on the beaches, particularly in the south-west of the island. With the end of the conflict, new regions are opening up to tourism, in the north and on the east coast, for example around Passikudah, where four hotels have recently opened.

Formalities Passport valid for more than six months and compulsory visa (30 $), obtainable from the Sri Lankan embassy in Paris or on the Internet (www.eta.gov.lk).

Time difference 4.5 hours in winter, 3.5 hours in summer.

Currency Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR). 1 euro = LKR 175 (September 2013).

Area code : + 94.

Climate Tropical. The best period is from January to April. The monsoon drowns the east coast from November to January, while it occurs from April to July on the south-west coast. This "alternation" means that Sri Lanka can offer beach tourism all year round.

Languages Sinhalese and Tamil are the two official languages. English is widely spoken.

For more information

Office national du tourisme
No. 80, Galle Road, Colombo 03.
Tel: +94 112426900
Email : dptd@srilanka.travel
Internet: www.srilanka.travel

Embassy of Sri Lanka in France

16, rue Spontini. 75016 Paris.
Tel.: 01 55 73 31 31
Email : sl.france@wanadoo.fr
Internet: www.srilankaembassy.fr

Agency

Aitken Spence Travels
4th Floor, Aitken Spence Tower 2. 315 Vauxhall Street, Colombo 02

- Phone: +94112 308308 - Fax: +94 112 422381
Email : astonline@aitkenspence.lk
Internet: www.aitkenspencetravels.com

How to get there

SriLankan Airlines is the only airline to fly non-stop between France and Sri Lanka.
It operates four rotations a week from terminal 1 at Paris CDG airport. Flight time: around 10 hours. The airline, which recently joined the Oneworld alliance, offers two classes: Economy and Business, with real lie-flat seats for the latter.

Business passengers have access to the Icare Lounge at Roissy and the Srendib Lounge in Colombo. Economy class seats recline 115° and are equipped with individual screens.

Tel.: 01 42 97 43 44
Internet: www.srilankan.com

Thanks to the partnership with Etihad, passengers wishing to use Air France routes will benefit from daily code-share flights to Colombo operated by the Emirati carrier with connections in Abu Dhabi.
Flight time: 12 h 35.

Tel.: 0820 320 820
Internet: www.airfrance.com

Hotels

Colombo
Galle Face Hotel
This is Colombo's historic address, an elegant 145-room seafront palace with a colonial ambience that has seen all the world's greats come and go since 1864.
The atmosphere is delightfully old-fashioned, with old servants in livery and antiques. The addition of the Regency wing and a spa a few years ago has raised standards, while the traditional wing is currently being restored. New meeting rooms - in addition to the current four, which are also being renovated - are planned for the autumn. The lawn, between the sea and the pool, is the setting for gala evenings.

2 Galle Road, Colombo 3.
Phone: +94 11 254 1010
Email : information@gallefacehotel.net
Internet: www.gallefacehotel.com

Anuradhapura
Palm Garden Village
Twenty minutes from the Anuradhapura site, the hotel is set in 14 hectares of exuberant natural surroundings, with a lake where elephants come to quench their thirst. With just 64 rooms, space is the hotel's main strength. The rooms are set in villas decorated with traditional materials and four-poster beds.
The gigantic swimming pool lends itself to great parties for around a hundred people, which can be combined with the meeting room, which can accommodate up to 500 people. An ayurvedic centre completes the facilities.

Puttalam Road, Pandulagama, Anuradhapura

- Tel.: +94 25 222 3961
Email : pgvh@sltnet.lk
Internet: www.palmgardenvillage.com

Polonnaruwa
Deer Park Hotel
On the edge of a lake, 14 km from the site of Polonnaruwa, this hotel wraps itself around a swimming pool with small waterfalls. Bungalows share the 77 rooms, decorated in an ethno-chic style with parquet flooring and colonial furniture. All are of a high standard, with discreet air conditioning, satellite TV and a pleasant outdoor shower. However, the site is a little cramped. However, the hotel makes the difference with its top-of-the-range facilities:
a meeting room (150 p.), a spa, a squash court and even a nightclub... Its outdoor restaurant organises Sri Lankan evenings for around fifty people.

Giritale - Tel: +94 27 224 6272
Email : mail@deerparksrilanka.com
Internet: www.deerparksrilanka.com

Dambulla
Amaya Lake Resort
In the heart of the 'cultural triangle', the hotel, although frequented by many groups, is a must. The site stretches quietly out to a lake, and the 113 rooms are spread across bungalows inspired by local architecture and decorated with ethnic handicrafts.
Housed in a new wing, 18 of them are spacious and bright, with contrasting contemporary decor. In addition to a conference room for up to 300 people, the hotel hosts team-building events in its park, and organises night safaris or barbecues by the lake with live entertainment...

Kap Ela. Kandalama.
Tel.: +94 66 446 1500
Email : amayalake@amayaresorts.com
Internet: www.amayaresorts.com

Kandy
Amaya Hills
Opened in 1997 on the heights of Kandy, a 15-minute drive away, the hotel boasts superb views over the city. Of the 100 rooms, those overlooking the mountain are preferable.
Some of the rooms could do with a little refreshment. Sports enthusiasts will be delighted by the beautiful terraced swimming pool, squash court and fitness room, while an Ayurvedic spa invites you to relax. The large seminar room, with capacity for 250 people, boasts a lovely panoramic view.
Small groups will also appreciate the culinary workshops.

Heerassagala

- Tel.: +94 814 474 022
Email : amayahills@amayaresorts.com
Internet: www.amayaresorts.com

Practical Guides

The Routard Guide, Sri Lanka (2012/2013); Lonely Planet, Sri Lanka (2013); Petit Futé, Sri Lanka (2012/2013).