How to buy a prepaid SIM card for Sri Lanka?

If you’re getting ready for a trip to Sri Lanka, you’re likely in the middle of planning some final details. However, if you already haven’t, another thing you should consider is how you’ll be getting around and communicating while you’re there.

To make sure your vacation goes smoothly, consider swapping your UK SIM for a Sri Lanka SIM card. This will help you avoid extra expenses and allow you to use translation apps and maps without having to rely on Wi-Fi.

Also, if you need a cost-effective way to handle your finances across borders, check out the Wise card from the money services provider Wise. It can help you get ready for your stay in Sri Lanka and save money while travelling abroad. You can pay and withdraw cash like a local for low fees* and at the mid-market exchange rate.

Why should you buy a prepaid SIM card when travelling to Sri Lanka from the UK?

Having a local Sri Lanka SIM card when visiting is a great way to save money. Since international calls or data usage usually aren’t included in UK monthly plans, they’re an additional expense. So, better to have a Sri Lanka SIM card than to get charged by your provider for using your phone abroad.

Since you won’t have to take daily Wi-Fi breaks, it will be easier to stay in touch with your friends and family. You’ll have better network coverage and be connected all day long. Also, having a Sri Lanka SIM card will allow you to use translation apps and maps whenever you need to, which are all travel essentials.

If you’re still not convinced, you could rely on international roaming instead. Various networks, such as VOXI or Virgin Mobile, have global roaming packages that include Sri Lanka. Others, like Tesco Mobile, Sky or Three, will have you pay roaming charges as you go.

How much does a SIM card cost in Sri Lanka?

Sri Lanka SIM cards are rather affordable. You can get a 4 GB plan for less than £1 at Hutch or a 7-day unlimited data card for £5 with Dialog.

When it comes to eSIM deals, they’re slightly more expensive. For example, a 3 GB pass from Maya Mobile costs £5.

How to buy a prepaid SIM card for Sri Lanka?¹

You can get a Sri Lanka SIM card at many selling points throughout the country. This includes official network operator stores, various retail outlets and authorised resellers. However, the best way to buy a SIM is at an official store, since they’ll be able to explain to you anything you’re curious about. The main operators in Sri Lanka are Dialog, Mobitel and Hutch.

Once you choose a suitable SIM package, make sure you have your passport ready. The store employees will register your card for you and explain how you can activate it. Ask in advance if you can pay with your credit card or debit card or if it’s a cash-only store.

Where can you buy a SIM card for Sri Lanka in the UK?²

You can buy a Sri Lanka SIM card before even leaving the UK, but you won’t get to be picky. One way to do this is to order your SIM through SimCorner.

They have three options - a 10 GB SIM for £14, a 15 GB plan for £24 and a 12 GB plan for £19.

Can you buy a Sri Lanka SIM card at the airport?³

Yes, you can get a Sri Lanka SIM card as soon as you land. Some airports, such as Bandaranaike International Airport or Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport, have shops or counters where you can buy them.

You can get a local SIM at mobile provider airport stores or booths, but also at convenience stores such as Carrefour Express. Sometimes they’ll even have them at duty-free shops.

Best prepaid SIM cards for Sri Lanka

Here are some of the best SIM card options for a vacation in Sri Lanka.

Mobitel⁴

Mobitel has one 7-day tourist plan and two 30-day packages. Each one includes unlimited local calls and 1000 text messages to any network in Sri Lanka.

The weekly tourist plan has 15 GB of data and it costs only £2. If you need a Sri Lanka SIM for longer than that, the 30 GB package costs close to £4. Finally, they have an unlimited data tourist SIM which will set you back £13.

If you run out of data at any point, you can always buy more. For around £1.6 you can get an additional 8.4 GB of data, while 20 GB costs around £3.5.

Dialog

Dialog offers three plans designed for tourists. They all have a 30-day validity period and include both data and voice calls. The £3.5 plan has 20 GB of data, the middle £4.5 plan has 30 GB and the largest £6 package includes 50 GB of data. Even the smallest plan should cover a short stay in Sri Lanka.⁵

However, if you feel like you need unlimited data, Dialog has such plans that you can use for 1 to 7 days. For example, their 7-day maximum speed plan with unlimited data costs £5.⁶

Hutch⁷

Hutch has a variety of plans suitable for visitors. They’re called Anytime plans and they range from 1 GB to 100 GB of data coverage.

The price of their 4 GB plan is less than £1, the 21 GB deal costs £3 and their biggest package includes 100 GB for around £6.

Best e-SIM cards for Sri Lanka

Buying an eSIM is the easiest way to stay connected while in Sri Lanka, since you don’t even have to visit a physical store. You can even get an eSIM before leaving the UK and activate it upon arrival.

Make sure you check whether your phone is compatible with eSIMs. And if it is, here are some of the best eSIM cards for Sri Lanka.

Airalo⁸

Airalo has a few eSIM options you can use in Sri Lanka.

The cheapest plan costs $4.50 for 1 GB of data over the course of a week, while the next one in line lets you use 2 GB in 15 days for $7. They also have four 30-day plans which cost $9.50, $13, $21 and $32. The difference between them is the amount of data - 3 GB, 5 GB, 10 GB or 20 GB.

Holafly⁹

Holafly only has unlimited data eSIMs, so you won’t have to worry about running out at any point. You can customise the duration of your plan from 1 to 90 days and get a better deal if you include more days. For instance,one day of unlimited data will cost you £5, while 5 days will be £16.

You can share 500MB of data with your travel companions, so this could be a good deal when travelling in groups.

Maya Mobile¹⁰

Maya Mobile offers plans with different amounts of data that can be used for 5, 10, 15 or 30 days. The most affordable one is the 3 GB pass that costs £5. If you need more data, they even have unlimited plans, like their 10-day £24 pass.

Spend like a local in Sri Lanka with Wise

While you’re picking a Sri Lanka SIM card for your trip, you’ll also want to check out options for holiday spending.

The Wise card, from the money services provider Wise, is a convenient choice. Order a card for a one-time fee of £7, and you can spend and withdraw like a local in Sri Lanka and 150+ more countries. You can also send money to pay for a rental car, accommodation, or the like while still in the UK.

With the Wise card, your pounds are automatically converted at the mid-market exchange rate whenever you spend. You’ll just pay a small conversion fee, or no fee if you already have the currency in your Wise account*.

Please see the Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise fees & pricing for the most up-to-date information on pricing and fees.

Sign up with Wise today 💰

Sources used:

Sources last checked on date: 17-July-2024