Sri Lanka

Basics

Sri Lanka has 4 network operators:

• Dialog (owned by Axiata)
• Mobitel (owned by Sri Lanka Telecom)
• Hutch (owned by Hutchison Whampoa) merged with Etisalat
• Airtel (owned by Bharti Airtel)

2G/GSM is on 900 and 1800 MHz up to EDGE, 3G/UMTS on 2100 MHz up to DC-HSPA+ and 4G/LTE started on Dialog, Mobitel and Hutch on 1800 MHz (B3). Now 900 (B8) and 2100 MHz (B1) is also refarmed for 4G/LTE.

In 2018 Hutchison and Etisalat have agreed to merge their mobile businesses, operating under the names Hutch Lanka and Etisalat Lanka. The newly combined network is marketed under the Hutch brand.

Coverage

Coverage is fairly good. You can expect 3G speeds in every city and town, even relatively small ones. Along the coast, you'll have signal of some sort everywhere, but it drops in the mountains. where you often get only slow 2G.

Availability

When you arrive in the country at Bandaranaike International Airport near Colombo, buying a SIM card is extremely simple. As you exit the baggage reclaim area, you’ll encounter a row of cell company vendors. If you’ve got a few minutes, ask around at each vendor and see which one has the best rates at the time. You'll pay more at these stalls as they often only offer "tourist packages" which are more expensive than standard plans. Ask for their standard packs and if they won't sell you, go in town to one of their outlets to make a better deal for data.

Regulations

When purchasing a SIM card, you will need to prove your ID by showing a passport. A digital photograph of you is taken at some stores. If you do not wish to be photographed, please produce a recent passport-size photograph conforming to passport specifications.

All operators list their prices with taxes included, only for Airtel you need to add taxes (+12.24%).

Dialog Axiata

Dialog Axiata, formerly known as Dialog Telecom, is the biggest mobile provider in Sri Lanka. It has the best coverage in the country at the highest rates: Coverage map. 4G/LTE on 1800 MHz (B3) is given out on prepaid where available without surcharge.

It's the biggest provider with almost half of the subscribers in the country. In 2020 it has covered 92% of the population with 4G/LTE and started 5G on n78 in the capital.

Availability

Their standard SIMs may be a better deal than the tourist plan (see below), if you only want data. They come in two tariff lines: per minute package and per second package, both for Rs. 150 start-up fee.

For data it doesn't make a difference as the same data packs can be added. They are available island-wide from Dialog customer service centers and local dealers: Dialog Store locator

Recharge cards are available everywhere from Rs. 50 - 1,000 adding 15 to 365 days of validity.

Data feature packs

Default rate outside of packages and for overuse is Rs. 0.30 per MB.

Time-based Packages:
Price	Time	High-Speed Data	Beyond @ 512 kbps
Rs. 20	1 hour	500 MB	2 GB
Rs. 60	4 hours	1 GB	4 GB
Rs. 100	2 days	2 GB	8 GB
Rs. 200	5 days	4 GB	10 GB
Rs. 400	10 days	8 GB	15 GB

Volume-based Packages:
Daytime Data	Nighttime Data	4G Bonus	Price	Validity	Code
165 MB	165 MB	82.5 MB	Rs. 29	3 days	INT29
330 MB	330 MB	165 MB	Rs. 49	7 days	INT49
660 MB	660 MB	330 MB	Rs. 99	21 days	INT99
1.43 GB	1.43 GB	0.175 GB	Rs. 199	30 days	INT199
2.64 GB	2.64 GB	1.32 GB	Rs. 349	30 days	INT 349
3.96 GB	3.96 GB	1.98 GB	Rs. 499	30 days	INT499
5.5 GB	5.5 GB	2.75 GB	Rs. 649	30 days	INT649
8.8 GB	8.8 GB	4.4 GB	Rs. 949	30 days	INT949
14.3 GB	14.3 GB	7.15 GB	Rs. 1,449	30 days	INT1449
19.8 GB	19.8 GB	9.9 GB	Rs. 1,949	30 days	INT1949
33 GB	33 GB	16.5 GB	Rs. 2,949	30 days	INT2949

Note: All prices including taxes. To activate, send text with code to 678. Night data is midnight to 8am, day data anytime, 4G bonus only for 4G networks. Once usage of volume-based packages exceeds the indicated data amount, you'll get a message and the default rate will be charged.

They offer these special nighttime packages for midnight to 6am.

• 3.63 GB nighttime, 302.5 MB anytime for 21 nights: Rs. 95
• 60.05 GB nighttime, 6.05 GB anytime for 30 nights: Rs. 1499

Tourist plan

Their tourist plan includes

• for Rs. 1299: Rs. 600 IDD call credit, Rs. 350 local call credit, 10 GB data as 6 GB anytime and 4 GB morning data (midnight to 6am) valid for 30 days

The Tourist plan will be automatically activated when you top up Rs.1299 or dial #778# and activate Rs.1299 plan. You can top up with regular vouchers and add regular data packages.

More info

• APN: dialogbb
• Tethering is allowed
• Website: https://www.dialog.lk/

Mobitel

Mobitel, owned by Sri Lanka Telecom Plc. is the 2nd provider in the country with a 28% share of the market. It has a good coverage in 2G and 3G and started with 4G on 1800 MHz (B3) and 900 MHz (B8): Coverage map.

Availability

Regular SIM cards are available islandwide for Rs. 200-300 in their service centers (store locator) and at local dealers. A digital photograph of you is taken at the Mobitel centre. If you do not wish to be photographed, please produce a recent passport-size photograph conforming to passport specifications.

Top-ups as cards or electronic recharges are sold all over the country. Check balance by *100#.

Data feature packs

Overuse is at Rs. 0.30 per MB. These data packs are available:

Price	Validity	Daytime Data	Nightime Data	4G Bonus	Activation
Rs. 5	24 hours	40 MB			D5
Rs. 29	3 days	150 MB	150 MB		D29
Rs. 49	7 days	300 MB	300 MB	225 MB	D49
Rs. 99	21 days	600 MB	600 MB	450 MB	D99
Rs. 199	30 days	1.3 GB	1.3 GB	1 GB	D199
Rs. 299	30 days	2 GB	2 GB	1.5 GB	D299
Rs. 399	30 days	2.5 GB	2.5 GB	2 GB	D399
Rs. 499	30 days	4 GB	3 GB	3 GB	D499
Rs. 699	30 days	6.1 GB	5.1 GB	4.6 GB	D699
Rs. 999	30 days	8.1 GB	8.1 GB	6.1 GB	D999
Rs. 1999	30 days	20.48 GB	20.48 GB	15 GB	D1990

All prices are tax included. For activation text code to 7678. Daytime is anytime, nighttime is midnight to 9am, 4G bonus can only be used on a 4G network. Check data balance by #170#.

They also sell these time-based plans with unlimited data:

• for 30 mins: Rs. 20
• for 3 hours: Rs. 60
• for 5 hours: Rs. 95
• for 12 houts: Rs. 199
• for 24 houts: Rs. 389

These last prices are without taxed, those in the table above include taxes.

Tourist SIM

Mobitel has issued a prepaid tourist pack for Rs. 1600 (tax included) to be sold at the airport. It contains some free minutes, but only 500 MB free data, but you can add usual packages.

For data users they have issued a special data pack for tourists. It sold for Rs. 1999 (tax included)valid for 365 days. It contains 20 GB valid 9am to midnight and another 20 GB valid from midnight to 9am.

More info

• APN: mobitel
• Website: http://www.mobitel.lk/

Hutch

Hutch by Hutchison Whampoa is the 4th provider in the country giving the lowest rates for data on a reasonable coverage in the populated areas mainly. In 2018 4G/LTE was launched in the Western Province to be spread nationwide.

Hutchison has bought Etisalat in 2018 and has merged the two networks. The new entity has a combined mobile subscriber market share of around 26% making it the thrid largest provider in Sri Lanka slightly behind Mobitel.

Availability

Their SIM card is available for free or a minimal price in their stores (Store locator). Reloads are available from Rs. 10 and are all valid for one year.

To check balance text "bal" to 344.

Data feature packs

They have a huge variety of plans for prepaid. All prices are tax included. Excess is at default rate. Note that speed is limited to 3.6 Mbps in Dowload and 512 Kbps in Upload only on all plans.

• Always Internet on: 27c per MB daytime (midnight - 6pm), 57c per MB nighttime (6pm - midnight). Activation: *131*4*1# - can be used as default rate

• Pocket Internet: for light and short-time use
  • 24 MB until midnight, Rs. 3 activation: *131*3*1#
  • 90 MB for 2 days, Rs. 14, activation: *131*3*2#
  • 630 MB for 3 days, Rs. 29, activation: *131*3*3#
  • 720 MB for 14 days, Rs. 89, activation: 131*3*5#

• Daytime blast: for daytime users
  • 60 MB daytime (midnight - 6pm), 11 MB anytime for 2 days: Rs. 7, activation: *131*5*4#
  • 125 MB daytime (midnight - 6pm), 35 MB anytime for 4 days: Rs. 17, activation: *131*5*3#
  • 790 MB daytime (midnight - 6pm), 110 MB anytime for 15 days, Rs. 97, activation: *131*5*1#
  • 1.85 GB daytime (midnight - 6pm), 550 MB anytime for 30 days, Rs. 197, activation: *131*5*2#
  • 48 GB daytime (midnight - 6pm), 2.2 GB anytime for 30 days, Rs. 1970, activation: *131*5*6#

• Value mega internet: for medium users
  • 900 MB, 100 dom minutes for 30 days: Rs. 195, activation: *131*3*7#
  • 12.5 GB day use, 7 GB night use for 30 days: Rs. 998, activation: *131*6*12#
  • 24 GB day use, 10 GB night use for 45 days: Rs. 1690, activation: *131*6*13#
  • 36 GB day use, 10 GB night use for 45 days: Rs. 2490, activation: *131*6*15#

• Day and Night Internet: for heavy users (daytime = 9am - midnight, nighttime = midnight - 9am)

Daytime Data	Nighttime Data	Validity	Price	Activation
40 MB	40 MB	2 days	Rs. 6	*131*6*1#
140 MB	100 MB	4 days	Rs. 18	*131*6*2#
245 MB	55 MB	7 days	Rs. 39	*131*6*6#
360 MB	150 MB	7 days	Rs. 48	*131*6*3#
770 MB	550 MB	14 days	Rs. 99	*131*6*4#
1.7 GB	1 GB	30 days	Rs. 198	*131*6*7#
3 GB	2.5 GB	30 days	Rs. 290	*131*6*8#
6 GB	5 GB	30 days	Rs. 490	*131*6*9#
7.7 GB	7 GB	30 days	Rs. 690	*131*6*10#

• Ghost Internet: for night users (2am - 6am only)
  • 2.4 GB for 3 nights: Rs. 45, activation: *131*7*4*1#
  • 4.8 GB for 7 nights: Rs. 75, activation: *131*7*4*2#
  • 12 GB for 15 nights: Rs. 175, activation: *131*7*4*3#
  • unlimited for 7 nights (1am - 6am): Rs. 299, activation: *131*7*3*1#
• Non-stop Internet: with a time-limited flat rate:
  • anytime
    • for 1 hour: Rs. 25, activation: *131*7*1*1#
    • for 2 hours: Rs. 45, activation: *131*7*1*2#
    • for 5 hours: Rs. 70, activation: *131*7*1*3#
  • off-peak (1am to 6 pm only)
    • for 1 hour: Rs. 19, activation: *131*7*2*4#
    • for 2 hours: Rs. 25, activation: *131*7*2*1#
    • for 4 hours: Rs. 45, activation: *131*7*2*2#
    • for 10 hours: Rs. 70, activation: *131*7*2*3#
  • Ghost (2am-6am) for 7 nights: Rs. 199, activation: *131*7*3*1#

More info

• APN: Hutch3g

• Website: http://www.hutch.lk

airtel

Airtel a.k.a. Airtel Lanka, by Indian Bharti Airtel is the smallest provider in Sri Lanka and started in 2009. It has a rather limited coverage in populated areas which you can check here: coverage map. Speed is up to 42 Mbps and as only provider no 4G/LTE yet, only 2G and 3G.

Take care: All prices listed of Airtel are without taxes. So 27.55 % for phone products and 12.24 % on data need to be added.

Availability

Their SIM cards are available in their stores (locator) and at the airport. You can get the "per second" or "per minute" plan which doesn't make a difference for data. They both come for:

• Rs. 100 plus tax: including 350 MB, 1000 on-net SMS and Rs. 99 airtime

Recharges are sold Rs. 30 - 1000. To check your data balance, dial *550#.

Data feature packs

Default rate is Rs. 0.01 per 10 KB.

They offer these packages without taxes (always add 12.24 % for the final price):

Price	Data	Night Data	App Data	Validity	Activation
Rs. 59	330 MB	440 MB	180 MB	5 days	D59 to 59
Rs. 118	1 GB			10 days
Rs. 119	660 MB	1 GB		14 days	D119 to 155
Rs. 179	1.5 GB		500 MB	14 days	*179#
Rs. 479	5 GB		1.5 GB	30 days
Rs. 999	12 GB			30 days

Different packages require separate SIM pack for each plan. All prices are without taxes (+ 12.24%). Nighttime is 1am-7am. For subscription text code to 155.

For night users (1am-7am) they have this package:

• 4.4 GB for 10 nights: Rs. 121, activation: N121 to 155.

Add 12.24% tax, packages must be activated on a separate SIM, to activate type *155*1*3# <call> for all packs.

Tourist SIM

At the international airport, they also sell tourist SIM cards with Rs. 15 international talktime preloaded. Have in mind that for data use, Airtel is the weakest network in the country.

More info

• APN: airtel
• Website: http://www.airtel.lk