Comments on: Buying a SIM Card or eSIM for Travel in Sri Lanka https://toomanyadapters.com/buying-sim-card-sri-lanka/ Tech gear, gadgets, reviews, and advice Wed, 30 Apr 2025 06:18:23 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.3 By: Dave Dean https://toomanyadapters.com/buying-sim-card-sri-lanka/#comment-753998 https://toomanyadapters.com/?p=13579#comment-753998 In reply to Jake.

Thanks for the update, Jake!

]]> By: Jake https://toomanyadapters.com/buying-sim-card-sri-lanka/#comment-753997 https://toomanyadapters.com/?p=13579#comment-753997 Thank you for all the good advice offered here.
I just bought the Tourist Deal (1300 skr / 6usd for 6 Gb + some night time data, calls and sms, 30 days validity) from the Dialog kiosk at the airport. Passport + 3 minutes.
They also have an eSIM available, but the rep said that took maybe 5 hours to activate, while the regular SIM is instant.
There is also an Airtel kiosk that has 60Gb for 999skr.
Mobitel seems to have re-branded as STLmobitel, and also have a kiosk before immigration, as well as after.

There is free wifi at the airport.

]]> By: Mike T. https://toomanyadapters.com/buying-sim-card-sri-lanka/#comment-724996 https://toomanyadapters.com/?p=13579#comment-724996 I have also visited Sri Lanka. Many areas have 4G facilities. Even in rural areas.

]]> By: Dave Dean https://toomanyadapters.com/buying-sim-card-sri-lanka/#comment-698200 https://toomanyadapters.com/?p=13579#comment-698200 In reply to Tim Larsson.

You’re being charged by Comviq, not by Mobitel, so you’ll need to complain to them. Comviq will have a roaming agreement with Mobitel, but like all other mobile companies it sets its own roaming rates, which will almost certainly be quite a bit more than what they’re paying Mobitel for you to roam with them.

The apps on your phone can often use quite a bit of data in the background, even when you’re not actively using the device. If you’re paying expensive roaming rates, I’d suggest turning mobile data off when you’re not using it. The other alternative is buying a local SIM card, which is what this article is about. 🙂

]]> By: Tim Larsson https://toomanyadapters.com/buying-sim-card-sri-lanka/#comment-698196 https://toomanyadapters.com/?p=13579#comment-698196 Hi, I must say that I have bad experiece of Mobitel in Sri lanka, my simcard is a swedish one with Comviq company, Evening time in Sri Lanka I did fill it up with my provider 250 swedish krona (abouth 4500 sri lanka rupees) and next morning I had a sms from my provider that my saldo was 0 !!! and I hadent even touch my mobil during the night, the roaming company is mobitel, if I understod the roaming provider has take al money that I filled up my account with, even tho I not been using the mobil. I DO NOT RECOMEND THIS SHIT MOBITEL COMPANY.. I strongly recomend any other provider than this thiefs.

Best regard Tim Larsson

]]> By: Shanike De Silva https://toomanyadapters.com/buying-sim-card-sri-lanka/#comment-678172 https://toomanyadapters.com/?p=13579#comment-678172 Hey, Sri lankan here, I’d like to provide some information since this is a four year old article. Most information is a bit outdated.

It’s best if you browse the career websites before leaving your home country because you might have a better chance finding out the perfect internet/call plans for you.

There are 5 mobile phone careers here, The best right now is either Dialog Axiata or Mobitel depending on if you need more talk time or data.

Here’s the package list for Dialog : https://www.dialog.lk/tourist-plans
And here’s for Mobitel : https://mobitel.lk/prepaid/tourist-pack

You could also check if your mobile phone supports the local bands through this website:
https://www.frequencycheck.com/countries/sri-lanka

Happy travels 🙂

]]> By: Charlie https://toomanyadapters.com/buying-sim-card-sri-lanka/#comment-654685 https://toomanyadapters.com/?p=13579#comment-654685 Hi DaveDean
Came across this in a search and just wanted to let you know that this was a realy helpful article/post. Thank you so much for outlining everything- also for being so considerate and answering everyone’s questions still many years later! I am now going to check out what else you have written about. Cheers

]]> By: Dave Dean https://toomanyadapters.com/buying-sim-card-sri-lanka/#comment-649974 https://toomanyadapters.com/?p=13579#comment-649974 In reply to Andrew.

Sri Lankan companies would be unlikely to list prices in Indian rupees. If you’re seeing ‘rupees’ listed in Sri Lanka without any other explanation, it’s Sri Lankan rupees (LKR). The cell companies at the airport might accept US dollars (at a bad exchange rate), but I didn’t ask.

As mentioned, there are ATMs and money changers in the arrivals hall at Colombo airport, so there’s no real reason not to have local currency on you.

]]> By: Andrew https://toomanyadapters.com/buying-sim-card-sri-lanka/#comment-649972 https://toomanyadapters.com/?p=13579#comment-649972 So the prize for mobitel touridt packs are 499 and 999 indian or sri lanka rupees? Its make a difference for me. Can I pay it at airport for dollar or only with rupees?

]]> By: Dave Dean https://toomanyadapters.com/buying-sim-card-sri-lanka/#comment-648747 https://toomanyadapters.com/?p=13579#comment-648747 In reply to Verity.

As per the ‘costs’ section: “If you buy your SIM card and call/data plan separately, expect to pay around 150 rupees (a little over one dollar) for the SIM card, and a few hundred rupees for calls and data depending on your needs.”

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