Sri Lanka eSIM
Stay connected across Sri Lanka. Install before you fly.
- 4G on Dialog and Hutch
- Instant on arrival
- Refund if it doesn’t activate
Choose your plan
All prices GBP7 days
15 days
30 days
Good to know
Calls and texts
Sri Lanka plans are data only. Use WhatsApp or FaceTime for calls.
Your phone
It needs to support eSIM and be unlocked. Check your phone
Refunds
If your eSIM doesn't activate, we'll replace it free or refund you in full.
Sri Lanka eSIM plans at a glance
Cheapest
1 GB for 7 days, £2.35
Best value
20 GB for 30 days, £13.56, about £0.68 a gigabyte
No unlimited plan
The largest is 20 GB for 30 days, £13.56
Network coverage in Sri Lanka
Your Travelren eSIM can use Dialog and Hutch, both on LTE. Dialog is Sri Lanka's largest operator and has the widest reach, so between the two you get dependable signal in Colombo, Kandy and Galle, along the south and west coasts from Negombo to Mirissa, and in the Cultural Triangle towns around Sigiriya, Dambulla and Anuradhapura.
Keep reading
The hill country is well covered in towns such as Nuwara Eliya and Ella, and patchier on the scenic railway between them, where the line runs through cuttings and tunnels. Deep inside national parks like Yala, Wilpattu and Udawalawe, signal is weak. On the east coast, Trincomalee and Arugam Bay have coverage in and around town.
- Networks
- Dialog, Hutch
- Speeds
- 4G
What works in Sri Lanka
Works well
- PickMe and Uber for tuk-tuks and cars in Colombo and other big towns
- Google Maps on the coast roads and around the Cultural Triangle
- WhatsApp with drivers, guides and guesthouse hosts, who mostly prefer it
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- Card and banking apps in hotels and larger restaurants
- Uploading photos from Sigiriya, Galle Fort and the southern beaches
Watch out for
- Weak signal deep inside national parks such as Yala and Wilpattu
- Dead spots in the cuttings and tunnels of the hill-country railway
- Data only, so no Sri Lankan number for calls or SMS codes
Arriving in Sri Lanka
Almost everyone arrives at Bandaranaike International (CMB), about 35 km north of Colombo near Negombo, and both networks cover the airport. Sri Lanka uses the rupee (LKR).
Keep reading
Hotels, larger restaurants and supermarkets take cards, but tuk-tuks, buses, street food, temple donations and small guesthouses run on cash, and ATMs are easy to find in towns. Most visitors get around with a hired car and driver, by train, or by tuk-tuk. Agree a tuk-tuk fare before setting off, or book through a ride app where one operates, which is where a live data connection pays for itself. Drivers and guesthouses overwhelmingly use WhatsApp for bookings and directions.
Installing your Sri Lanka eSIM
Install your Sri Lanka eSIM at home before the flight; the QR code arrives by email as soon as you order. On iPhone: Settings, Mobile Data, Add eSIM. On Android: Settings, then Connections or Network, SIM manager, Add eSIM.
Keep reading
Sri Lanka plans set their own APN. Once you land at Bandaranaike, choose the eSIM for mobile data, switch on data roaming for that line, and keep your home SIM active for calls and texts if you need them. The whole process takes a couple of minutes.
Common questions
Which networks does the Travelren eSIM use in Sri Lanka?
Dialog and Hutch, both on LTE. Dialog is Sri Lanka's largest mobile operator, and your phone can use whichever network is stronger where you are. There's no APN to set up; once data roaming is on for the eSIM, it connects automatically.
Will I have signal on the Kandy to Ella train?
For much of the journey, yes, but not all of it. The line climbs through tea country with cuttings and tunnels, so expect signal to come and go. Download offline maps and anything you want to watch before boarding, and catch up at stations such as Nanu Oya and Haputale.
Does the eSIM work in Yala and other national parks?
Near the park entrances and in nearby towns such as Tissamaharama, generally yes. Deep inside Yala, Wilpattu and Udawalawe, signal is weak or absent on any network, so treat safari drives as offline time.
How much does Telstra charge to roam in Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka is in Zone 2 of Telstra's International Day Pass: A$10 a day with 2 GB of data a day, checked September 2026. AT&T's International Day Pass is US$12 a day. A Travelren plan costs one amount for the whole trip instead of a charge for every day you use data.
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When does my Sri Lanka plan start?
When your phone first connects to Dialog or Hutch in Sri Lanka. Installing the eSIM before you fly doesn't start the clock, so you can set it up at home and the days begin on arrival.
Can I use WhatsApp and video calls in Sri Lanka?
Yes. WhatsApp, FaceTime and other calling apps work over the eSIM's data connection, and WhatsApp is how most drivers, guides and guesthouses prefer to be contacted. Video calls run well on LTE in the towns and along the coast.
Do I need cash in Sri Lanka?
Yes. Cards work in hotels, larger restaurants and supermarkets, but tuk-tuks, buses, street food, small guesthouses and temple donations are usually cash in rupees. ATMs are common in towns; carry enough for stretches in the hill country or national parks.
Is one plan enough for a two-week trip?
Yes. Sri Lanka plans run for up to 30 days, so one plan covers a typical two- or three-week itinerary. Choose the data size by how you use your phone: maps, messaging and bookings use little, while video calls, streaming and uploading lots of video use far more.
Asia regional plan
Visiting more than just Sri Lanka?
One Asia eSIM covers Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh, plus 15 other countries.
£30.76
Not flying yet?
Tell us when you go and we’ll email you a reminder to set up your Sri Lanka eSIM three days before you fly. One email. That’s it.