Destinations
Internet in Sri Lanka: slow trains, tea and good coverage
A cheap, wide network with gaps in the inland mountains. What to expect on the train, what the trip uses and how to arrive connected.
Rubén Ortega 5 min Photo by Ajai S on Unsplash Sri Lanka is small, you travel it slowly and it has considerably better mobile coverage than people expect. The typical trip links coast, culture and mountains, and only the third leg gives signal trouble.
By area
| Where | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Colombo and the west coast | Good 4G |
| Cultural triangle | Fine |
| Ella, Nuwara Eliya and the mountains | Patchy between villages |
| Mountain trains | Comes and goes, with long stretches with nothing |
| National parks | Little |
The train, which is half the trip
The mountain leg is one of the reasons people go to Sri Lanka, and it is hours with the door open and stretches without signal. Whatever you need that day is best downloaded before you board.
Tickets are bought in advance in high season, and there you really do need a connection with days to spare.
What the phone is used for
- Booking accommodation and tuk-tuks, almost all by messaging.
- Maps, because the roads are narrow and poorly signposted.
- The weather, which on the coast changes with the monsoon on each side of the island.
- And the occasional translation, though English gets you a fair way.
What you will use
Between 300 and 600 MB a day. It is a destination of photos and messaging more than of video.
How to choose the plan's duration for a trip like this is in how many gigabytes a trip really uses.
Frequently asked questions
Is coverage good in Sri Lanka?
Better than expected: good 4G in Colombo, on the west coast and in the cultural triangle. In the mountains it is patchy.
Is there signal on the mountain train?
It comes and goes, with long stretches with nothing. Carry whatever you need that day downloaded.
How much data do I need?
Between 300 and 600 MB a day, so around 4 to 8 GB over two weeks.
Is an entry authorisation needed?
The country requires an electronic authorisation from most visitors, applied for before flying on the official site.
