Sri Lanka

Basics Edit

Sri Lanka has 5 network operators for now coming down to 3:

Dialog (owned by Axiata) merging with Airtel
Mobitel (owned by Sri Lanka Telecom)
Etisalat (UAE-owned) merging with Hutch
Hutch (owned by Hutchison Whampoa) merging with Etisalat
Airtel (owned by Bharti Airtel) merging with Dialog

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 and Mobitel on 1800 MHz. Now 900 and 2100 MHz is also refarmed for 4G/LTE.

In 2016 it's expected that Airtel is merging with Dialog to disappear from the Sri Lankan market. In 2018 Hutchison and Etisalat have agreed to merge their mobile businesses, operating under the names Hutch Lanka and Etisalat Lanka. The companies said that the combined business should be better positioned to serve their Sri Lankan customers. So soon there will be only three providers left in Sri Lanka.

Coverage Edit

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 Edit

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 Edit

When purchasing a SIM card, you may 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 AxiataEdit

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 is given out on prepaid where available without surcharge.

Tourist plan Edit

Their tourist plan comes in two sizes:

for Rs. 499: including Rs. 250 IDD call credit, Rs. 100 local call credit, 1 GB data and 6 hrs of WIFI valid for 30 days
for Rs. 1,299 including Rs. 600 IDD call credit, Rs. 350 local call credit, 9 GB data valid for 30 days

To activate - Rs.1299. Tourist plan will be automatically activated when you Top Up Rs.1299 or dial #778# and activate Rs.1299 plan if you have credit balance more than Rs.1299.

normal and micro SIMs are available and you can top up with regular vouchers and add regular data packages.

Availability Edit

Their standard SIMs may be a better deal, 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 islandwide 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 packsEdit

Default rate outside of packages and for overuse is Rs. 1 per MB.

Price	Time	Validity	Data	Code
Time-based Packages:
Rs. 20	30 mins	1 day	unlimited	KBB20
Rs. 50	2 hours	3 days	unlimited	KBB50
Rs. 100	5 hours	5 days	500 MB	KBB100
Rs. 200	12 hours	5 days	1 GB	KBB200
Rs. 400	24 hours	7 days	2 GB	KBB400

Data	Price	Validity	Code
Volume-based Packages:
20 MB	Rs. 3	1 day	DBB3
100 MB	Rs. 20	1 day	DBB20
130 MB	Rs. 29	3 days	INT29
300 MB	Rs. 49	7 days	INT49
1200 MB	Rs. 99	21 days	INT99
1 GB day, 1 GB night	Rs. 199	30 days	INT199
2 GB day, 4 GB night	Rs. 449	30 days	INT449
4 GB day, 5 GB night	Rs. 649	30 days	INT649
7 GB day, 8 GB night	Rs. 949	30 days	INT949
10 GB day, 12 GB night	Rs. 1,449	30 days	INT1449
15 GB day, 10 GB night	Rs. 1,949	30 days	INT1949
25 GB day, 10 GB night	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 8am to midnight. 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 only, valid for one night only:

1 GB: Rs. 20, activation: NT20
3 GB: Rs. 50, activation: NT50
unlimited: Rs. 100, activation: NT100

For activation, text code to 678.

More infoEdit

APN: ppwap
Tethering is allowed
Webs

MobitelEdit

Mobitel, owned by Sri Lanka Telecom Plc. is the 2nd provider in the country. It has a good coverage in 2G and 3G and started with 4G on 1800 MHz and 900 MHz. Coverage map. Plans to merge with Hutch have not yet materialized.

Tourist Pack Edit

Their tourist SIMs come in two sizes:

Rs. 499: including Rs. 100 worth of local calls, Rs. 200 worth of IDD calls, 1.5 GB data and 6 hours of WiFi valid for 30 days
Rs. 999: including Rs. 250 worth of local calls, Rs. 500 worth of IDD calls, 3 GB data and 12 hours of WiFi valid for 30 days

Available at the airports, for data-only better take a regular package.

Availability Edit

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 packsEdit

Price	Validity	Data Volume	Overuse	Activation
Rs. 5	24 hours	25 MB	Rs. 0.50 / MB	D5
Rs. 29	3 days	80 MB day, 80 MB night	Rs. 0.01 / 10 KB	D29
Rs. 49	7 days	200 MB day, 200 MB night	Rs. 0.01 / 10 KB	D49
Rs. 99	21 days	400 MB day, 400 MB night	Rs. 0.01 / 10 KB	D99
Rs. 199	30 days	800 MB day, 1.2 GB night	Rs. 0.20 / MB	D199
Rs. 299	30 days	1.2 GB day, 1.8 GB night	Rs. 0.20 / MB	D299
Rs. 399	30 days	2 GB day, 2.5 GB night	Rs. 0.20 / MB	D399
Rs. 699	30 days	4 GB day, 4 GB night	Rs. 0.20 / MB	D699
Rs. 999	30 days	6 GB day, 6 GB night	Rs. 0.20 / MB	D999
Rs. 1999	30 days	14 GB day, 14 GB night	Rs. 0.20 / MB	D1990

All prices are tax included. For activation text code to 7678. daytime is 9am to midnight, nighttime is midnight to 9am. Check data balance by #170#,

More infoEdit

APN: mobitel3g
Website: http://www.mobitel.lk/

Etisalat (to be merged with Hutch)Edit

Etisalat from the UAE is the 3rd provider in Sri Lanka giving a reasonable coverage in populated areas mostly: Coverage map.

In December 2018 Etisalat Group has released a statement confirming it has completed the sale of its 100% stake in mobile network operator Etisalat Lanka to Hutchison Telecommunications Lanka (Hutch Lanka). Both networks will be merged under the Hutch brand while Etisalat will retain a minority stake in the new entity. The merger is expected to last until 2020.

Tourist SIM Edit

Etisalat's tourist SIM is sold at the airport and in flagship stores in 2 denominations:

Rs. 1,000: including Rs. 500 worth of IDD calls, Rs. 50 worth of domestic voice, 30 intern. and 150 national SMS and 1 GB of data, valid for one month
Rs. 1,300: including Rs. 750 worth of IDD calls, Rs. 100 worth of domestic voice, 50 intern. and 200 national SMS and 1.5 GB of data, vaild for one month.

To reload, you have to top up another Rs. 1,000 or 1,300. So their regular SIM cards, may be a better deal for data.

AvailabilityEdit

Their regular prepaid SIM is sold for Rs. 150 in their stores: locator. It comes as a per minute pack or per second pack.

Top-ups are done through "refresh cards" of Rs. 1 - 1,000 giving validity of 1 to 365 days. To check your balance, dial #134#.

Data feature packsEdit

Default rate is Rs. 1 per MB. These packages can be booked on the prepaid cards:

All prices but the Rs. 1500 plan are tax included. Excess usage is at default rate. Night traffic is midnight to 8am. For activation text code to 2211.

Data-only SIM Edit

Their SIM card for data-only is called "Maxxa" and sold for Rs. 300.

The MAXX data-plan: For every reload of Rs. 199, you get 1 GB data plus 1 GB for night traffic, valid for 30 days. For Rs. 59 you can get a night add-on of 1 GB and for Rs. 99 a night add-on of 2 GB, both valid for 3 nights by texting N59 or N99 to 2211.

More infoEdit

APN: ebb

Website: http://www.etisalat.lk/

Hutch (merging with Etisalat) Edit

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

Hutchison has bought Etisalat in 2018 and is expected to merge the two networks. The enlarged entity will have a combined mobile subscriber market share of 27% making it the new no. 2 in Sri Lanka. The merger is expected to take up to 18 months to complete, during which time systems, networks, products and services will be combined.

Availability Edit

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

To check balance text "bal" to 344.

Data feature packs Edit

They have a huge variety of plans for prepaid. All prices are tax included. Excess is at default rate.

Always Internet on: 15 cts per MB daytime (midnight - 6pm), 30 cts per MB nighttime (6pm - midnight). Activation: *131*1# - default rate

Pocket Internet: for light and shorttime use
- 20 MB for 1 day, Rs. 3 activation: *131*2*1#
- 75 MB for 2 days, Rs. 14, activation: *131*2*2#
- 130 MB for 3 days, Rs. 29, activation: *131*2*3#
- 500 MB for 15 days, Rs. 89, activation: 131*2*5#

Daytime blast: for daytime users
- 40 MB daytime (midnight - 6pm), 10 MB anytime for 2 days: Rs. 7, activation: *131*4*4#
- 100 MB daytime (midnight - 6pm), 30 MB anytime for 4 days: Rs. 17, activation: *131*4*3#
- 650 MB daytime (midnight - 6pm), 100 MB anytime for 15 days, Rs. 97, activation: *131*4*1#
- 1.5 GB daytime (midnight - 6pm), 500 MB anytime for 30 days, Rs. 197, activation: *131*4*2#
- 40 GB daytime (midnight - 6pm), 2 GB anytime for 30 days, Rs. 1970, activation: *131*4*6#

Value internet: for medium users
- 750 MB, 100 dom minutes for 30 days: Rs. 195, activation: *131*3*5*6#
- 8.5 GB, 7 GB night use for 30 days: Rs. 998, activation: *131*3*1#
- 15 GB, 10 GB night use for 45 days: Rs. 1690, activation: *131*3*2#
- 25 GB, 10 GB night use for 45 days: Rs. 2490, activation: *131*3*3#

Day and Night Internet: for heavy users (daytime = 9am - midnight, nighttime = midnight - 9am)
- 30 MB day, 40 MB night for 2 days: Rs. 6, activation: *131*5*1#
- 100 MB day, 100 MB night fro 4 days, Rs. 18, activation: *131*5*2#
- 550 MB day, 550 MB night for 14 days, Rs. 99, activation: *131*5*3#
- 1.1 GB day, 1.1 GB night for 30 days, Rs. 198, activation: *131*5*5*6#
- 1.5 GB day, 3 GB night for 30 days, Rs. 290, activation: *131*5*5*7#
- 3 GB day, 6 GB night for 45 days, Rs. 490, activation: *131*5*5*8#
- 5 GB day, 7 GB night for 45 days, Rs. 649, activation: *131*5*4*7#
- 8.5 GB day, 7 GB night for 30 days, Rs. 998, activation: *131*5*5*10*11#
- 15 GB day, 10 GB night for 45 days, Rs. 1690, activation: *131*5*5*10*12#
- 25 GB day, 10 GB night for 45 days, Rs. 2490, activation: *131*3*5*10*14#

Ghost Internet: for night users (2am - 6am only)
- 2 GB for 3 nights: Rs. 45, activation: *131*6*2*1#
- 4 GB for 7 nights: Rs. 75, activation: *131*6*2*2#
- 10 GB for 15 nights: Rs. 175, activation: *131*6*2*3#
- unlimited for 7 nights (1am - 6am): Rs. 299, activation: *131*6*1*2#

More info Edit

APN: Hutch3g

Website: http://www.hutch.lk

airtelEdit

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 3.6 Mbps. It can be expected that Airtel will disappear from the country in 2017 after merging with Dialog, but this hsn't happened so far.

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 Edit

Their SIM cards are available in their stores (locator). You can get the "per second" or "per minute" plan which doesen'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 packsEdit

Default rate is Rs. 0.01 per 10 KB.

They offer these packages without taxes (always add 12.24 %):

Price	Data Volume	Night Data	Validity	Activation
Rs. 59	330 MB	440 MB	5 days	D59
Rs. 149	660 MB	1 GB	14 days	D149
Rs. 179	800 MB		14 days	*179#
Rs. 479	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: *155*1*3#

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

More infoEdit

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

FANDOM

Basics Edit

Coverage Edit

Availability Edit

Regulations Edit

Dialog AxiataEdit

Tourist plan Edit

Availability Edit

Data feature packsEdit

More infoEdit

MobitelEdit

Tourist Pack Edit

Availability Edit

Data feature packsEdit

More infoEdit

Etisalat (to be merged with Hutch)Edit

Tourist SIM Edit

AvailabilityEdit

Data feature packsEdit

Data-only SIM Edit

More infoEdit

Hutch (merging with Etisalat) Edit

Availability Edit

Data feature packs Edit

More info Edit

airtelEdit

Availability Edit

Data feature packsEdit

More infoEdit