visa Archives - GlenMyu Estate Luxury Bed and Breakfast

UK overtakes Russian tourist Numbers visiting Sri Lanka

Accommodation, Holiday, Sri Lanka, Sri Lankan Cooking, Travel, visa / By Mikeez

The UK overtakes Russian tourist numbers visiting Sri Lanka

In August 2024 it was reported that the UK overtakes Russian tourist numbers visiting Sri Lanka.

Now the UK is the 2nd largest source market in cumulative tourist arrivals.

India is still number one, but at GlenMyu Estate, we are finding that more visitors from the UK are discovering the island,

Sri Lankan Tourist Numbers

Over the last few years, since Sri Lankan tourists numbers started increasing, the main source markets were India and Russia.

Historically, Sri Lanka was a favourite destination for travellers from the UK.

It appears that the UK has found Sri Lanka again and now delivers the second highest number of tourists to Sri Lanka.

You can read more about this in the Sri Lankan Daily Mirror Article.

Sri Lankan Tourists numbers are published weekly by the Sri Lankan Tourist Development Authority.

We feel that we are at a bit of an advantage

GlenMyu Estate is owned and run by Ruwanthi who lived in the UK for about 16 years.

I am from the UK and travelled to the island for many years before relocating from London, UK.

As we have this Sri Lankan/UK mix, we feel that we have an advantage communicating and understanding our guests needs.

Great food - not too spicy!

Another advantage is that we are used to cooking for Western palettes.

In London, our flat was the place that all our friends wanted to come for dinner.

Ruwanthi understands that most people cannot handle the levels of chilli, salt and pepper that most Sri Lankans would add to their dishes.

Lots of visitors from all around the World

We love meeting people from places that we haven’t visited ourselves and get to know more about places from our guests.

Lots of our guests come from the UK, Ireland, France, Belgium and Germany. We are seeing more visitors from Spain, Italy and Portugal.

During August we have had visitors from Australia, New Zealand, Israel and the US and Canada. More Australians are finding Sri Lanka again and exploring the Hill country and East coast during their winter.

We find that we also have a lot of guests from Scandinavia, escaping the winter during the peak tourist season from December to April.

It has been very interesting us meeting guests from Kazakhstan, Slovenia, Poland and the Czech Republic.

Both my wife and I feel that we get to see more of the World through our guests eyes.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate to explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

See sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

The estate is usually within an hours drive of the major sightseeing locations such as Nine Arch Bridge, Ella Town, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Lipton’s Seat, Bambarakanda Waterfall and many more.

UK overtakes Russian tourist Numbers visiting Sri Lanka Read More »

Free Visa Access to Sri Lanka

Accommodation, Holiday, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka, Travel, visa / By Mikeez

Sri Lanka Visa - free visa access to 31 countries!

We were delighted to read in the press that Sri Lanka will allow free visa access to 31 countries from the 1st October 2024.

Is my country on the list?

Here is a list of countries in alphabetical order that on on the list for free visa access to Sri Lanka.

Australia, Austria,
Bahrain, Belarus, Belgium
Canada, China, Czech Republic,
Denmark,
France,
Germany,
India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Italy,
Japan
Kazakhstan
Malaysia
Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand
Oman
Poland
Qatar
Russia
Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland
Thailand
United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and United States

3 million tourists in 2025?

Sri Lanka is aiming to welcome 3 million tourists in 2024. The access free visa to enter Sri Lanka for the 31 countries will help the country towards this target.

GlenMyu Estate is looking forward to meeting new guests in 2024

GlenMyu Estate has only been open since 2022 and already we have several returning guests.

We only have three bedrooms on the five acre estate and therefore we can foresee limited capacity in 2024 due to the expected increase in visitors to the country.

GlenMyu Estate is great for those travellers that want to escape from the busy tourist town of Ella and avoid the crowds. Our guests regularly do day trips to Ella to see the sights and return to the peace and quiet of the estate. There are also many more places to explore and experience within a short drive of the estate.

We recommend that guests stay at least three nights as there is so much to see when you visit the Sri Lankan hill country.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate to explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

See sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

Free Visa Access to Sri Lanka Read More »

Holidays in Sri Lanka in 2026

Holiday, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka, Travel, visa / By Mikeez

What are the public holidays in Sri Lanka during 2026?

Holidays in Sri Lanka in 2026.
What dates are the public holidays in Sri Lanka in 2026?
Is there anything that I need to know?

Find out more by reading on.

Public Holidays in Sri Lanka - What is a Full Moon Poya Day?

A Poya Day is a civil and bank holiday.

The full moon day is normally considered as the Poya day in every month.

Poya is the name given to the Lunar monthly Buddhist holiday of Uposatha in Sri Lanka.

Usopatha is a Buddhist Day of observance.

The Buddha taught that the Uposatha day is for “cleansing of the defiled mind”.

On each Poya day, both lay and ordained members of the sangha (community) intensify their practice, deepen their knowledge and express communal commitment through acts of lay-monastic reciprocity.

It is a day for practicing the Budda’s teachings and meditation.

Lay followers make a conscious effort to keep the Five Precepts or traditionally Eight Precepts.

For further information regarding the Precepts https://thebuddhistcentre.com/buddhism has some further reading.

Public holiday dates

Here is a list of Public and National Holidays in Sri Lanka during 2026 so you can plan your holiday.

Public Holidays in Sri Lanka - The Poya Days in 2026

Date

Day

Holiday

2nd January

Friday

Durutha Full Moon Poya Day

14th January

Wednesday

Tamil Thai Pongal Day

1st February

Sunday

Navam Full Moon Poya Day

4th February

Wednesday

National Day

15th February

Sunday

Mahasivarathri Day

3rd March

Tuesday

Madin Full Moon Poya Day

21st March

Saturday

Id Ul-Fitr

1st April

Wednesday

Bak Full Moon Poya Day

3rd April

Friday

Good Friday

13th April

Monday

Day Prior to Sinhala and Tamil New Year Day

14th April

Tuesday

Sinhala and Tamil New Year Day

1st May

Friday

May Day

1st May

Friday

Vesak Full Moon Poya Day

2nd May

Saturday

Day Following Vesak Full Moon Poya Day

27th May

Wednesday

Id Ul-Alha

29th June

Monday

Poson Full Moon Poya Day

29th July

Wednesday

Esala Full Moon Poya Day

25th August

Tuesday

Milad un-Nabi

27th August

Thursday

Nikini Full Moon Poya Day

26th September

Saturday

Binari Full Moon Poya Day

25th October

Sunday

Vap Full Moon Poya Day

8th November

Sunday

Deepavali

24th November

Tuesday

III Full Moon Poya Day

23rd December

Wedsday

Undavap Full Moon Poya Day

25th December

Friday

Christmas Day

Please note that these date were researched and found at a Sri Lankan Government website providing dates for public holidays. https://publicholidays.lk/poya-day/

Public Holidays in Sri Lanka - What does it mean for me as a tourist to Sri Lanka?

Some of the Five Precepts have a noticeable effect on Poya Days for visitors.

Meat, Fowl and Fish products are not available to buy.

Alcohol is not available in most places.

All the Wine Stores and Supermarket alcohol sales are closed. Most bars and restaurants also are not allowed to sell alcohol on the day.

Buddhist Temples will be busy

A special Buddhist program is conducted by temples on Poya Days and is called Sil (sometimes spelt Sill).

Typically it starts early in the morning around 6 a.m. and comprises of sermons, discussion, blessings and meditation. It can last for 12 hours and the attendees are normally provided with food and drinks during the day.

If you do decide to visit a temple either during a Poya Day or outside the holidays please remember to dress and act appropriately.

What should I wear?

Trousers/pants/skirts or any other dress long enough to cover the knee.
A shirt/t-shirt/blouse or any other dress should cover the shoulders.
No hats and head cover.
No shoes/sandals or slippers.

When taking pictures.

It’s really important also not to take photos with your back to the Buddhist Statue.

Please do not touch, sit near or climb on a Buddhist Statue.

Please also get permission to take photos and never take pictures during worship.

Whatever you plan to do on your holiday in Sri Lanka we hope that you enjoy your time on this Paradise Island.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate to explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

See sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

Holidays in Sri Lanka in 2026 Read More »

Good News for Tourists to Sri lanka

Holiday, Sri Lanka, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka, Travel, visa / By Mikeez

Good News for Tourists to Sri Lanka.

The Minimum Room Rate will end by the 31st May 2024.

Perhaps they will also rethink visa fees!

The change to the minimum room rate is good news for tourists to Sri Lanka and especially to the hotels based in Colombo.

Some hotel operators were happy with the MRR, however many thought that it would deter business coming. They believe that they have lost some MICE business as there are more economic places to hold business meetings and conferences.

You can read more in the Daily Mirror article by clicking on the link.

More good news for tourists rising Sri Lanka

Recently there has been some controversy about the visa process being outsourced to a company called VFS Global.

There have been many newspaper articles highlighting the issues about the increase in cost to tourists.

The good news is that the single entry visa will be reviewed and hopefully this will make it cheaper for travellers to visit Sri Lanka.

Proposed development of a tourist hub in Galle, Sri Lanka

The government wants to advance plans to develop the port of Galle into a tourist spot.

A new passenger terminal is planned and this will enable more tourist vessels to embark and visit the historic Dutch port.

Doing away with tourist visas altogether?

“Travelling should be simple as getting off the plane and getting out,” Fernando told reporters in Colombo yesterday.

Sri Lanka already gives free visas to 67 countries around the globe. Tourism Minister Harin Fernando opined that Sri Lanka should consider doing away with visa altogether for tourists

Visit Sri Lanka and stay at GlenMyu Estate to explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

A stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

The estate is usually within an hours drive of the major sightseeing locations such as Nine Arch Bridge, Ella Town, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Lipton’s Seat, Bambarakanda Waterfall and many more,

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Good News for Tourists to Sri lanka Read More »

Sr Lanka Tourist Visa May 2024

Holiday, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka, Travel, visa / By Mikeez

Sri Lanka Tourist Visa May 2024.

Update – Sri Lanka Tourist Visa May 2024.

Visiting Sri Lanka just got more expensive as the country outsources the online system for getting your visa.

The visa price has increased from US$50 to US$75.

However, there will also be an administrative fee of US$18.50 charged by the company that issues your holiday visa.

What are the visa fee costs?

The only government authorised vehicle to purchase your online visa is operated by IVS-GBS and VFS Global.

There is an eVisa fees waiver scheme for citizens of China, India, Indonesia, Russia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Japan.

You can see the visa fees in the following link.

Where do I buy my Sri Lankan Tourist Visa?

The best place to buy your visa is online at the official government website.

The outsourcing and increase in fees appears to have taken many by surprise.

The Sri Lanka Daily Mirror article “Sri Lanka now has highest visa costs in Asia” can be read by clicking the flowing link.

Is Sri Lanka still worth visiting?

Despite the increase in visa fees we still think that Sri Lanka is worth visiting.

There are so many things to do and see on this paradise island.

Our guests at GlenMyu Estate love their experience around the island.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate to explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

A stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country and see sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

The estate is usually within an hours drive of the major sightseeing locations such as Nine Arch Bridge, Ella Town, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Lipton’s Seat, Bambarakanda Waterfall and many more,

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

Sr Lanka Tourist Visa May 2024 Read More »

UK updates travel advisory for Sri Lanka

Horton Plains National Park, Lipton's Seat, Haputale, Sri Lanka, Little Adam's Peak, Sri Lanka, The Pekoe Trail, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka, Travel, visa / By Mikeez

The UK updates travel advisory for Sri Lanka in April 2024.

UK updates travel advisory to Sri Lanka

Good news for Sri Lanka.

The UK updated its travel advisory for Sri Lanka in April 2024.

The revised advice should result in even more Brits holidaying in the paradise island.

600,000 tourists for the 3 months since January 2024

Sri Lanka’s tourist numbers have already increased hugely, when compared to last year.

This news from the UK Travel Advisory is likely add to the number of holidaymakers coming from the United Kingdom.

You can see the monthly tourist arrivals and the comparisons at the Sri Lanka Tourist Development Authority website.

In the papers ....

UK updates travel advisory to Sri Lanka

The news of the revised travel advice to Sri Lanka was reported in the press in Sri Lanka.

You can read the articles by clicking the links.

The UK travel advice for Sri Lanka

Keep up to date with current travel advice from the UK Government by visiting their website.

More visitors to GlenMyu Estate from the UK

At GlenMyu Estate we have received lots of guests that travel from the UK.

The revised travel advice to Sri Lanka will most likely increase numbers that we see here in the Sri Lankan Hill country.

Both Ruwanthi and her husband lived in the UK for many years before relocating to Sri Lanka.

You can read more about our story by clicking the About Us button on our website.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate to explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

A stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country.

We only have 3 bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

The estate is usually within an hours drive of the major sightseeing locations such as Nine Arch Bridge, Ella Town, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Lipton’s Seat, Bambarakanda Waterfall and many more,

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

UK updates travel advisory for Sri Lanka Read More »

Sri Lankan Visa - where should I buy one?

The best place to buy a Sri Lankan Tourist Visa

Holiday, Sri Lanka, Things to do on holiday in Sri Lanka, Travel, visa / By Mikeez

The best place to buy a Sri Lankan Tourist visa?

Where is the best place for me to buy a Sri Lankan Tourist Visa?

I don’t want to get scammed or have to pay more through an agency?

Don't use an agency if you can avoid it!

You may pay a large additional fee for purchasing a visa through an agency.

The ETA is a simple and quick way to purchase your Tourist Visa and therefore we would recommend that you avoid using an agency.

Use the Official Sri Lankan Visa site and buy it online.

The best way to buy a Tourist Via for Sri Lanka is to visit the ETA section on the Official Sri Lankan Government Website

30 days or 90 days Visa?

Save money and hassle

Sri Lanka offers the following:

Tourist Visa with Double Entry for 30 days.
Cost: US$ 50

Tourist Visa with Double Entry up to 90 days.
Cost : US$ 50 Twice the relevant country Tourist Visa fee.

Check the Official website for current prices

Please note that these fees were sourced from the Official Sri Lankan Government website in January 2024.

The fees will no doubt be revised in future, so please visit their website for current pricing

SAARC

South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Countries pricing is slightly lower.

Buy when you arrive at BIA?

There is a limited facility at Bandaranaike International Airport, Colombo to buy a visa on entry.

Additional costs will apply.

It will also delay your entry after a long flight, so we would recommend that you purchase your visa by ETA in advance.

Please note that your airline may not permit you to fly without a visa.

It is important that you check with your airline before you fly.

Stay at GlenMyu Estate to explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country

A stay at GlenMyu Estate as you explore the Sri Lankan Hill Country and see sights like Horton Plains National Park is a unique experience.

We only have three bedrooms and you will need to book early during the peak holiday season.

The estate is usually within an hours drive of the major sightseeing locations such as Nine Arch Bridge, Ella Town, Upper Diyaluma Waterfall, Lipton’s Seat, Bambarakanda Waterfall and many more,

GlenMyu Estate is listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.
Contact us by the WhatsApp button on our website for direct booking rates.

The best place to buy a Sri Lankan Tourist Visa Read More »

Which Nationalities visit Sri Lanka the most?

Holiday, Sri Lanka, Travel, visa / By Mikeez

Which Nationalities visit Sri Lanka the most?

Tourists visit Sri Lanka from all parts of the world to explore the fascinating variety of sights, activities and culture the country has to offer. The Island has years if experience welcoming guests from all different parts of the Worlds. It’s interesting to know which Nationalities visit Sri Lanka the most so you know what other tourists you may meet in the country.

Sri Lanka Tourist Statistics

The Sri Lanka Tourist Development Authority issues annual, monthly and weekly statistics which breakdown the numbers of arrivals and country of origin.
There is comparison figures, month to month and year to year, however you must take into account that there have been external and internal factors that have affected tourist arrivals.

The global pandemic effectively closed the country to tourists and it took some months before Sri Lanka was off the red list for travel. There was also a lag before a more normal number of flights started arriving on the Island. In our experience flights really only started bringing a number of tourists in November 2021.

There was also effectively a halt in tourist numbers arriving in the country from late April 2022 until effectively November 2022 due to the government protests. The protests took place between 31 March and July 2022 as a result of the price of basic goods rising and food and fuel shortages.

Foreign Office warnings against travelling to Sri Lanka started to be lifted in August 2022 forward as the country started to settle down again after a change in government.

Flights from Russia started in September 2022 and other carriers followed in the latter part of the year. Tourist numbers increased to around 100,000 per month in early 2023 and it is hoped that arrivals will continue to move upward. The target tourist numbers for 2023 for Sri Lanka is 2 million and therefore the industry still has a way to go to achieve this goal.

Sri Lanka’s tourist numbers peaked at just over 2.5 million in 2018 according to the World Bank. Clearly the country has a long way to go to reach those numbers again.

Where do the tourists come from?

Visitors from the Russian Federation and India make up the highest number of visitors to Sri Lanka according to the official statistics.

This article from Outlook India states that in December 2022 there 19,000 from Russian and 17,000 from India.

The UK, Australia and Germany follow in passenger numbers. We, at GlenMyu Estate, see a lot of French, Swiss, Austrian and Scandinavian tourists coming to the Sri Lankan Hill Country to visit some of the sights including Ella, Nine Arch Bridge, Horton Plains National Park, Lipton Seat and Diyaluma Waterfall.

What countries is Sri Lanka targeting for tourists?

UK, Germany, France, India, China, Australia, Russia, the Middle East, and Scandinavia
During April and May 2023 the Tourist Development authority in Sri Lanka were targeting nine key markets.
If your country is not in that list please do not be offended. We at GlenMyu Estate have welcomed guests from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Kazakhstan, Poland, Ecuador, Kenya, the US and many more.

What Visa do I need to visit Sri Lanka?

Well, you will need a visa to visit Sri Lanka.

As Tourist Visas have changed over the last few years, in Sri Lanka’s attempt to increase tourism, we would recommend that you visit the Government Visa Website to get the most up to date information.

As a tourist you can visit the country for the following activities:

Sightseeing, holidaying
Visiting friends and relatives
Medical treatment including Ayurvedic and yoga
Participate in sporting events, competitions and activities relating to cultural performance

The most efficient way to apply for a visa is online via an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation)

There are three types of ETA:

ETA for Tourist purpose with double entry for 30 (thirty) days
ETA for Business purpose with double entry for 30 (thirty) days
ETA for Transit up to 02 days Free of Charge basis (Documentary proof needed)

At present, there are Tourist Visas which cost between US$20 and US$50, depending upon length of visa and country of origin. Visa duration is up to 30 days or up to 180 days.

South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Countries visa cost is cheaper due to the special agreement between those countries.

If you are staying longer than 30 days then you should opt for the longer up to 180 days which costs US$50.

Visit the link for extending your visa for more than 30 days here.

What time of year should I visit Sri Lanka?

Similar to other parts of the world climate change appear to be affecting the weather patterns in Sri Lanka.

Therefore it is more difficult to know when the rains will come.

Know when the Monsoons come.

Beware the South West Monsoon…. oh… and also the North West Monsoon

Tourists visiting Sri Lanka should be aware of the annual monsoons that hit the country.

Make sure you check this before you decide what part of the Island to visit.

The North Eastern Monsoon

December to February
Rainy season in the dry zone
Regular showers in Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Trincomalee or Jaffna
This is an ideal time to visit the south and western beaches
It is also the best time to visit Colombo, Kandy, Galle or Nuwara Eliya
Whale watching season at Mirissa
You can experience the amazing wildlife in Udawalawe or Yala National Park
Horton Plains National Park and Knuckles Mountain range
Pilgrimage season of holy Adam’s Peak

The South Western Monsoon
May – September
There are intermittent rains in the wet zone
Also regular showers in Colombo, Kandy, Galle, or Nuwara Eliya
This is the best time to visit Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya or Dambulla
It is also an ideal to visit north and eastern beaches
It’s the best time of the year to visit Trincomalee, Jaffna, Mannar, Arugam Bay
During August-September there is the elephant gathering at Minneriya and Kaudulla.

Sri Lanka is an all year round destination.

Sri Lanka is a year-round holiday destination. This is due to its combination of weather systems ensuring that one or several regions, as well as a section of coastline, is statistically always expecting sunshine.

The peak season to visit Sri Lanka is between December and mid-April. The traditional summer holiday months are also favourable on the east coast which is at its peak from May to September.

In summary, please check the weather forecast for the part of the country you plan to visit and don’t discount visiting outside the peak season. Nowadays, tourists are looking for places to visit which are not overpopulated and they can see something without battling other people trying to get those Instagram shots.

Find out more about GlenMyu Estate.

We are listed on Booking.com and Airbnb.

Which Nationalities visit Sri Lanka the most? Read More »