To get an international driving license for Sri Lanka

To get an international driving license for Sri Lanka, you need to go to an office.

Our website makes it easy to apply for IDL. There are only a few steps:

To get an international driving license in Sri Lanka, fill out the application form.

2. Add two passport-sized photos to your account.

It will take less than two hours for you to get approved, and you will get it done.

There will be a physical copy of the book sent to you at any address you want. It means that you can apply for IDL from your home country before going on the trip. You can do this from anywhere in the world: from India to Italy to Norway to Spain to the Philippines to Australia to Belgium to Ireland to Sweden to Switzerland.

There is no need to get an international license to drive in Sri Lanka.

IDL lets you drive cars in other countries. When you go through some checkpoints in the country, it is essential to be careful. People who work for the government might want to see it as part of a check-up. If you want to rent a car, you may also need to show your international driving permit.

If you want to drive a motorcycle in this country, your IDP will be covered as type "A." You will be able to drive or rent a motorcycle.

The Department of Motor Traffic will give you a short-term driving permit after showing them your international driver's license for your trip. Because your international driver's license is an English translation of your Sri Lankan driver's license, you need to bring both documents with you when you go on a driving trip.

The price for an international driving permit is how much it costs to get one.

There is a fee of $49 for an international driving permit in Sri Lanka that lasts for a year, and it is valid. You can choose how long your international driving permit is valid. It can last from 1 to 3 years.

Is there a way to get a Sri Lankan driver's license?

It's only for tourists who stay in the country for more than six months. A person could get it from the Automobile Association of Ceylon in Galle Face and the Motor Traffic Department in Werther.

Sri Lanka has an international driving license.

Driving rules that are the most important to follow

To be a tourist, it's also a good idea to plan out your destinations and schedule well, but it's also essential to have a lot of freedom with your time, and there is no better way than to rent a car. Driving can be difficult because of some narrow roads and many other people. Getting to know each other is the most important thing! It's important to know where you're going, who the people are, and how the roads work in this island country to have a good trip.

This is how to drive on country roads. In Sri Lanka, you have to drive on the left side of the road when you go there.

You mustn’t forget to look at essential documents.

If you drive in some parts of the country, you can expect to be stopped by the police. So don't forget to bring your IDL with you, as well as your driver's license, passport, and a few other ID cards. These might be used on some inspections. Being ready pays off.

She was driving while high on drugs or alcohol is against the law.

Getting into a car accident is one of the most dangerous things globally. Drunk driving can cause both minor and significant injuries. For people who drink and drive, there is a fine between LKR 25,000 and 30,000, and your license could be suspended for up to 12 months. A driver can't have more than 0.06 per cent alcohol in their body.

In this case, there are three different speed limits.

These speed limits are fundamental to the government. For residential or rural areas, your speed can't be more than 50KPH at all times. When you drive through cities, the speed limit is 70KPH. Meanwhile, highways and expressways are running at 100 PKH. It doesn't matter how many expressways your car goes through; police officers won't be afraid to pull you over if you're going too fast.

When you wear seatbelts, you will be safe.

If you don't wear your seatbelt while driving, you will get a fine. Both the driver and the passengers need to wear seatbelts. Children under two should be given car seats, and seatbelts should not be shared.

Driving: Do not use your cell phone while you're on the road

Some people check their phones now and then, but it is against the law when driving. To make sure you can use your cell phone, especially when you expect an essential call to use the hands-free system, you need to know.

Drive with your eyes open for road signs.

Sinhala, Tamil, and English are written on the road signs. These are the two official languages of the country.

The best places

How can you not see the long coasts of this country on the east and south? There are a lot of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the north, where you can see a lot of plants and animals. History and religion are essential to learning. Become better at making tea. And you can taste and see for yourself how unique and authentic their spices are.

The Beira Lake

Most tourists would always start their trip in Colombo; it’s the capital city. Some great places are also found in the capital. Beira Lake is in the middle of the city, near many busy businesses and other buildings. There were crocodiles in the lake when the Portuguese built this to keep its people safe, but now they don't live there.

This is a place for many different plants and animals to live. Even though this is in the middle of the city, you can still go on picnics and boat rides. A lake is also a good place for people to go on pilgrimages. The best time to visit the site is in the morning—seven in the morning and six at night. People should visit from November to February because the air is more relaxed and there aren't many rain chances.

Driving there on the road:

• Getting to Beira Lake is only a five-minute drive from the heart of the city of Colombo.
• You can go west on McCallum Rd/AC6 to Kovil Veediya.
• The Lake House Bus Stop is on the Colombo-Batticoa Highway/Colombo-Ratnapura-Welcome Road/Parsons Rd/Sir Chittampalam A Gardiner Mawatha/A4. Turn left at the Lake House Bus Stop.
• Kew Point Rd. is on the left at the Air Force Hq Bus Stop.
• There is a security school called SLPA Security Training School on Morgan Road, and you should turn right.

The National Museum

Here we go! Let's learn more about this beautiful country. Don't forget to go to its national museum, which has been there since 1877. Sir William Henry Gregory, the British Governor of Ceylon, started it (now Sri Lanka). Check out rooms two to five of the museum because they show how the country looked in the past. It's also a must-see before you drive to the ancient cities and Kandy.

Carvings, statues from the past, guns and swords are just a few of the types of art you'll see when you enter the Museum of History. It is open from 9 AM to 5 PM. Public holidays, like a full moon, Poya Days, Sinhala and Tamil New Year Day, Thai Pongal, Ramazan, Christmas and more, don't work for them. They're open all year except for those days.

Driving there on the road:

• This is only an 8-minute car ride from the centre of Colombo.
• You can drive along Darley Road, T. B. Jayah Mawatha, Dr Colvin R de Silva Mawatha/Union Pl, Srimath Anagarika Dharmapala Mawatha, Sir Marcus Fernando Mawatha as you go to the city centre.
• Turn to the left at SriLankaExporters, and you'll get there.
• If you go left, your destination will be on the left.

The Temple of the Holy Tooth Relic

It is a Buddhist temple in the city of Kandy that has a golden roof, and it is beautiful. The sacred tooth of the Buddha is kept in the temple. The room where the tooth is kept is open to devotees and tourists, but it is very well protected. The relic is in a gold casket, which is why you don't see it when you go to the place where the relic is. Outside of prayer times, the best time to visit the temple is around 5:30 AM, 9:30 AM, and 6:30 PM.

Driving there on the road:

• It takes about 3 hours to get to Colombo from here.
• Take McCallum Road and T. B Jayah Mawatha to AC19, turn right on AC19 and follow it until you get to AC19.
• Make your way from Colombo to Kandy on the A1 to Gannoruwa Road/Hector Kobbekaduwa Mawatha/B365.
• To get to Kandy, go down Gannoruwa Road and AB42 until Kandy Rd. This is the road that goes from Kandy to Jaffna. It's called Kandy-Jaffna Highway, or A9.
• Drive to Sangaraja Mawatha, and then get off the road there.
• Turn left at the Provincial Health Ministry to stay at Sangaraja Mawatha. This is where you will stay.

At the Gal Vihara, there is a lot of peace.

This is one of the most well-known rock temples in this country. It is in the North Central Province of Polonnaruwa. Significant: This is a giant Buddha seated and two smaller ones. There is also a standing Buddha and one that is lying down. People can see it from a long way away. The tallest is the standing Buddha, which is 7-feet tall and stands out.

People usually go to the Gal Vihara in the morning, around 8 AM to 9 AM. If you want to enjoy the place with fewer people, you might want to go in the afternoon. A lot of people only stay for about 30 minutes at the site. The busiest days at Gal Vihara are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday.

Driving there on the road:

• Visit the sacred Bodhi Tree, then go to The Gal Vihara to see its appearance. About two hours.
• Then, go through Mihindu Mawatha and New Elkaduwa Road to Bandaranaike Mawatha/A28, which is where you want to be.
• Minneriya is in the city of Minneriya. Take the Kandy Rd/Kandy-Jaffna Highway/A9 and A11 to Hingurakgoda Road/Minneriya-Hingurakgoda Road/B287 in Minneriya.
• Hingurakgoda Rd/Minneriya-Hingurakgoda Rd/B287 and Polonnaruwa-Hingurakgoda Rd/B552 will get you to your destination in Nissankamallapura, so follow them.

Sigiriya is a rock that looks like a lion.

There is a fortress called Sigiriya in the northern Matale District near Dambulla, and it is called that because it is near the town. Take 1,200 steps to the top of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, and you'll be amazed by the 360-degree view when you reach the top! King Kashyapa lived on top of this rock according to a long-ago history.

Getting to the top isn't that hard because the correct paths and stairs have already been built. These murals, gardens, a swimming pool, and a palace can be found on this 200-meter square-shaped rock, which also has a swimming pool. Forty-five minutes is how long it will take you to get to the top, but it depends on how quickly you go. It's better to visit this place in the morning when fewer people are there. Tour the rock for about two and a half hours.

Driving there on the road:

• If you are coming from the Gal Vihara, the trip should only take a little over an hour.
• It would help if you kept going until you got to Polonnaruwa, then you could go home.
• Follow the A11 and the Sigiriya Road to Dambulla. Drive from the A11 and the Sigiriya Road to Dambulla on the B55.
• Turn left.

Horton Plains is a national park.

For people who like to go hiking, this is for you! This national park is 3 169 hectares, and it has a lot of plants and animals. A few of them are the rarest. A visitor centre serves as a starting point for a 9 km, three-hour hike. Start your hike early in the morning to avoid the extreme heat at noon. You can enjoy the cold and windy weather as you trek through Hortons Plains.

This national park is also home to both land and water ecosystems. It is a sheer cliff that is about 4,000 feet above sea level. As you go on your trek, you will see it. Baker's Falls is a place where you can enjoy the cold water. It's best to visit Hortons Plains when dry from January to March.

Driving there on the road:

• There are tea plantations in Nuwara Eliya. It takes 1 hour and 10 minutes to get to Hortons Plains from there.
• Take the Peradeniya-Badulla-Chenkaladi Highway/A5 to the southeast.
• On Blackpool - Magasthota Rd, turn right at the Magasthota Police Station. This road goes to Blackpool.
• Make a left at Pradeep Motors and head down Blackpool-Ambewela-Pattipola-Horton Plain Rd/B512.
• Left at Hiru Holiday Bungalow is the best way to stay on Blackpool-Ambewela-Pattipola-Horton Plain Rd/B512, the main road through Blackpool.
• To get to World's End Rd/B512, turn right at Ambewela Jct, and keep going.

Ella rocked out.

Small Ella is a small town in the southern part of this country. In the middle of town, there is a famous cliff called Ella Rock, 8 km away. During your hike, you can hire a guide from the town. If you're going at a good pace, you should be able to go hiking for about 2-3 hours. Inside, you'll see trees that look like they belong in a forest. There is no better way to start a hiking trip than to start it early. It's best if you start early so you can see the landscape from the top of the hill.

Driving there on the road:

• It takes 1 hour and 45 minutes to get to Ella town from Horton's Plains National Park, but you can get there in less than two hours.
• Take Ohiya Rd/B508 in Bandarawela to the Beragala-Hali Ela Hwy/A16 in Bandarawela to get to the city.
• The next stop is Ella.
• Turn left at the Ella city centre and read the Ella - Passara Rd/B113.

In this picture, you can see Negombo Beach.

 

Negombo is a business city on the west coast. During the colonial era, the Negombo lagoon's shallow waters became one of the most important places to trade. If you want to enjoy the quiet and cool sea air, don't forget to visit Negombo beach. Take a cup of coffee or breakfast with you and enjoy the peaceful sound of the waves. You might see local fishers going out to fish. And while you're at it, don't forget to watch its beautiful sunset while lying on brown sand.

Driving there on the road:

• City: Negombo is about an hour's drive from Colombo, and it's not far from the city centre.
• Make your way through Wattala by taking AC19, A1, A1, Sebastian Canal Rd, Dr Britto Babapulle Pl,... and A1 to the Colombo - Katunayake Expy/E03 in Wattala.
• Make your way through Wattala by taking AC19, A1, A1, Sebastian Canal Rd, Dr Britto Babapulle Pl,... and A1 to the Colombo - Katunayake Expy/E03 in Wattala.
• Continue on Chilaw - Colombo Main Rd/Puttalam - Colombo Rd/A3 to get to Colombo. Drive to Poruthota Road in Negombo and then turn right on to the road.

Sinharaja is a forest reserve.

These are two more UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Sabaragamuwa and Southern Provinces area. You can find more than half of the world's rare and endangered animals and insects in this seven 648-hectare forest reserve. If you want to camp or go hiking or birdwatching, you should check with the reserve manager or warden first.

At this time of year, there is a lot of rain that can cause mudslides. So it's best to visit this reserve from January to May and August to December when it's least likely to rain. This is also for you to understand better how beautiful the forest is.

Driving there on the road:

• Sinharaja Forest Reserve is about three hours away from Hiriketiya Beach, and it would take you that long to get there.
• People who live in Colombo should take Hiriketiya Rd to get to Colombo, Galle, Hambantota, and Wellawaya.
• Colombo - Galle - Hambantota - Wellawaya Highway/Tangalle Road/A2: Keep going on this road. There are several roads you can take from Dikwella to Beliatte. You can also take the Dikwella - Walasmulla Road, the Walasmulla - Katuwana - Middeniya Road, and the Batandura Road to the Deniya Pallegama Road in Deniyaya.
• Then, keep going on Deniyaye Pallegama Road. Take the Kolam Enigma Dombagoda Rd to Lankagama, then turn right at Lankagama. It's called Deniyaya Road.

This is the place for people who want to visit Gal Oya National Park.

Another place you should go to if you are interested in biodiversity and wildlife. In the Uva and Eastern provinces, there is a 29,000-hectare wildlife reserve. It would help if you did not miss the elephant herd that can be seen all year long in this park. You can drive around the area in a jeep or go on a safari with a boar.

Elephants, axis deer and water buffalo, are just some of the animals that live on land here. You can find forests, shrubs, and grasslands in the forest here. It would help if you visited Gal Oya between June and December because then it's dry. It's also the best time to see elephants, but it's not the only reason.

Driving there on the road:

• Going from Kandy takes about 4 hours.
• Head southwest on Baladaksha Mawatha toward the Getambe Kandy By-Pass/William Gopallawa Mawatha and the AB42, or AB42.
• Uva Province: Take the Haragama Road/B413 and Mahaweli Royal Mawatha/B492 to Jambugahapitiye-Mhagama Rd in Uva Province.
• A road called B57 in Rideemaliyadda goes from Ritigaha to Arawa. You can take this road to get to Bibile, Uraniya, and Mahiyangana in Rideemaliyadda.
• Continue on Bible - Uraniya - Mahiyangana Rd/B57. Drive to Pallang Oya in the Eastern Province. Take the B527 to get there.