Staying connected to the internet from the moment you land in Sri Lanka is essential for a smooth trip.
Using your UK mobile phone on roaming can incur hefty charges, so getting a local prepaid SIM card is the smart choice.
DilshanSri Lankan mobile data is inexpensive and offers fast 4G speeds across most of the country, making it easy to use Google Maps, rideshare apps, social media, and keep in touch with family.
This guide explains where and how to buy a SIM card (with a focus on the popular provider Dialog), the types of tourist plans available, how to top up data, what kind of internet performance to expect, and which mobile operators are recommended for travelers.
Immediate Connectivity Upon Arrival at Colombo Airport
After you clear immigration and collect your luggage at Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) in Colombo, you’ll find several official mobile network counters right in the arrivals hall.
As you step into the public area of the arrival lobby, multiple telecom booths are lined up in front of you – you can’t miss them. The major providers in Sri Lanka – including Dialog, Mobitel (SLT-Mobitel), Airtel, and Hutch – all have kiosks there.
Among these, Dialog’s counter tends to be the most popular, often with a queue of tourists, and for good reason: Dialog is the largest telecom operator in Sri Lanka, known for wide coverage and reliable 4G internet service across the island. (Mobitel is a close second in coverage and speed, while Airtel and Hutch are smaller networks with more limited coverage.)
DilshanDialog’s airport kiosk is open 24 hours, so even if your flight arrives late at night or early morning, you can still get a SIM on the spot.
The booth is usually located near the exit of the arrivals hall – look for the red Dialog logo signage.
To purchase a SIM, simply approach the counter; the staff are accustomed to helping international travelers. You will need to show your passport for registration, as required by Sri Lankan regulations.
The process is straightforward and handled in English. The staff will ask what plan you need, register your details, and even help install the SIM card and set up your phone if you want. Within about 5 minutes, your phone should be configured and connected to the internet.
The only thing you must ensure beforehand is that your phone is SIM-unlocked (not restricted to your UK carrier).
LilyMost UK phones sold in recent years are unlocked by default or can be unlocked on request, but double-check with your provider before traveling to avoid any surprises.
Also, remember to bring a SIM-eject pin or use a paperclip so you can swap out your UK SIM card. (It’s a good idea to store your home SIM in a safe place, like taped inside your phone case or in a small plastic bag, so you don’t lose it while using the local SIM.)
Dialog’s Prepaid Plans for Tourists and Prices
At the airport counters, you’ll find prepaid tourist SIM packages tailored for short-term visitors.
Dialog in particular offers several affordable plans with generous data allowances.
DilshanAs of 2024–2025, typical packages for Dialog’s Travel SIM include
| Data Package | Validity | Cost (LKR) | Approx Cost (GBP / EUR) | Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 GB | 30 days | ~ LKR 1,400 | ~ £3.50 / €3.90 | Good for 1–2 week trips. Includes about LKR 174 worth of local call/SMS credit (roughly enough for tens of minutes of local calls). |
| 30 GB | 30 days | ~ LKR 1,800 | ~ £4.50 / €5.00 | Suitable for a longer stay or heavier use (e.g. frequent video streaming). Comes with some call/SMS credit included. |
| 50 GB | 30 days | ~ LKR 2,450 | ~ £6.00 / €6.70 | Large data plan with unlimited WhatsApp messaging data. Ideal for heavy data users or those working remotely during the trip. Also includes call/SMS credit. |
| 100 GB | 30 days | ~ LKR 3,200 | ~ £8.00 / €8.90 | Very large data cap – it’s unlikely a tourist would exhaust this in a short trip. Includes call/SMS credit as well. |
All the above packages already include the SIM card cost and registration.
You simply pay the package price and get a ready-to-use SIM. You’ll receive a Sri Lankan mobile number with your SIM, which means you can make and receive calls or texts locally.
Each package comes with a small amount of free credit for voice calls and SMS – useful for brief calls, for example to contact your hotel or driver. (For instance, the 20 GB pack’s LKR 174 credit can provide anywhere from a few dozen to around 100 minutes of local calling, depending on the call rates.)
The validity for these tourist packs is typically 30 days from activation. If your stay is longer than 30 days or you run out of data, you can easily top up or extend the plan.
Topping up (also called recharging) can be done by purchasing recharge cards or scratch vouchers from any convenience store or mobile phone shop in Sri Lanka and following the instructions (usually dialing a short code to load the credit).
DilshanYou can also top up online via the provider’s website or mobile app (Dialog has a “MyDialog” app that allows adding data packages with a credit card).
LilyIf you need more data, you can either buy an add-on data pack or simply reload a certain amount of credit which can then be converted to a data plan (the staff at any Dialog store can assist with this if needed).
Payment at the airport counters can be made in Sri Lankan Rupees (LKR) and in many cases credit cards are accepted as well, which is convenient if you haven’t obtained local currency yet on arrival.
Because you are getting a local number, do be aware that you might occasionally receive unexpected calls or texts intended for the SIM’s previous user or spam marketing – you can ignore any unfamiliar local numbers.
Your mobile internet usage, however, will be the main focus, and Sri Lankan 4G networks are generally solid.
Internet speeds in Sri Lanka are quite decent for mobile data; in urban areas and popular tourist regions, 4G LTE download speeds typically range in the tens of Mbps, which is sufficient for streaming YouTube, using WhatsApp video calls, and other common online activities.
Coverage is good in cities and along major roads.
In more remote areas (like national parks or rural mountain regions), you may sometimes drop to 3G or have spotty signal, but around most towns and sights you’ll find a stable connection, especially if you’re on Dialog or Mobitel. (Dialog is known to have slightly better coverage in many rural parts.)
As of 2025, 5G networks are in trial mode in Sri Lanka – you might see a 5G signal in Colombo or Kandy if you have a 5G-capable phone, but it’s not yet widespread or fully commercial. For now, 4G is the standard and it covers almost all needs for travelers.
Tip: After you insert the Sri Lankan SIM, your phone will have a new local number. You might want to inform any local contacts (like your driver or tour guide) of your new number. Also, apps like WhatsApp can still be used on your original number if you prefer – swapping the SIM doesn’t log you out of WhatsApp, so you can continue to message friends as before. The unlimited WhatsApp feature of some plans (like Dialog’s 50 GB tourist pack) means those WhatsApp texts and calls won’t count against your data allowance at all, which is a nice perk.
Finally, keep your UK SIM card somewhere secure while you’re using the local one, so you can easily put it back in when you leave. A small SIM case or even a wallet coin pocket works well to store the tiny card.
What If You Can’t Find the SIM Kiosk? – Meeting Your Driver in the “Paging Area”
For first-time visitors, international airports can be confusing, and you might feel unsure about where to find the SIM card counters. At Colombo Airport, however, it’s quite straightforward: as mentioned, they are right in the arrivals hall just after you exit customs.
In the unlikely event you don’t spot the SIM kiosks immediately or feel overwhelmed, and especially if you have pre-booked an airport pickup or taxi service, you have another option: meet up with your driver first and have them assist you.
Many travelers heading to Sri Lanka arrange an airport transfer or private driver in advance (for example, through a hotel or a tour company), and these drivers are very familiar with tourist needs – including buying SIM cards.
DilshanWe at LankaMe also arrange to meet in the Paging Area when meeting at the airport.
When you exit the secure area into the arrival lobby, you will see a fenced or roped-off section where drivers and guides wait with name boards.
This area is known as the “Paging Area.” It’s typically right straight ahead as you come out of the doors, just past some bank counters where you can exchange money.
Dozens of drivers will be lined up here, each holding signs with their passenger’s name. Simply look for your name on a placard if you’ve arranged a pickup.
The designated “Paging Area” at Colombo Airport arrivals, with drivers waiting to meet passengers. The mobile service kiosks (like Dialog’s booth with the red logo) are visible in the background, so you can easily get a SIM card right after meeting your driver.
Once you connect with your driver in the paging area, you can let them know you’d like to buy a SIM card before leaving the airport.
Virtually all local drivers understand that tourists often need a SIM as soon as they arrive – it’s a very common request. Your driver will gladly escort you to the correct counter (e.g. the Dialog booth or whichever provider you prefer) and help translate or facilitate the purchase if necessary.
DilshanSince Sri Lanka is an English-speaking country, language shouldn’t be a major issue for UK travelers, but having a local assist can speed things up, especially if there’s a crowd.
LilyThis way, you don’t have to worry about missing the location or handling the setup alone.
Alternative Option: Renting or Buying a Portable Wi-Fi Unit in the UK (for use in Sri Lanka)
For UK travellers who prefer a shared hotspot over swapping SIMs, there are two practical routes you can arrange before leaving the UK:
(1) rent a global pocket Wi-Fi that works in Sri Lanka and have it delivered to your UK address, or (2) buy an unlocked MiFi device in the UK and insert a Sri Lankan data SIM when you land.
DilshanThe first option favours convenience (everything arrives ready to go); the second is usually the best value over a trip of a week or more.
Below is a quick comparison of UK-friendly options and what to expect.
| Option | How you get it in the UK | Typical cost & data model | Returns/ongoing use | Key notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TravelWifi (formerly TEP) – rental hotspot | Order online for UK delivery; works in 130+ countries including Sri Lanka | Day-pass pricing (per-day rental with data bundles; exact price shown at checkout) | Post back after your trip | Ships to UK; supports multiple devices; 4G where available. Check Sri Lanka is on the coverage list and select the right plan dates. travelwifi.com |
| Solis (formerly Skyroam) – buy or rent | Buy the hotspot online and add global day passes or monthly plans; rentals also offered | Device purchase + pay-per-day or monthly data (prices shown at checkout) | Keep the device for future trips | One device can be reused on future travels; plans sold by day/GB. Confirm Sri Lanka coverage before purchase. Solis |
| Buy an unlocked MiFi (use a Sri Lankan data SIM on arrival) | Purchase an unlocked MiFi in the UK (e.g., Huawei E5577 or TP-Link M7350) via UK retailers | One-off device cost (commonly ~£55–£70), then buy a local Sri Lankan data SIM at the airport | No returns; you own the device | Unlocked units accept any SIM; pair with a Dialog/Mobitel tourist data pack after landing for the lowest overall cost. Amazon UK |
If you want zero admin on arrival, a UK-delivered rental hotspot is straightforward: you turn it on after touchdown and share Wi-Fi with your travel party.
TravelWifi confirms rental coverage across 130+ countries (you select Sri Lanka when ordering), and they ship kits to UK addresses; pricing is shown as day-passes during checkout. Solis (Skyroam) offers a similar model: you can buy the hotspot once and then add global passes for each trip, or opt to rent;
plans are sold per day or per GB. Both let you connect several devices at once, handy for families.
If you’re cost-conscious, owning an unlocked MiFi and inserting a local Sri Lankan SIM is usually cheaper over even a short holiday.
Unlocked models like the Huawei E5577 and TP-Link M7350 are widely sold in the UK; once in Colombo, buy a tourist data SIM (e.g., Dialog) at the airport and pop it into the device.
You’ll get local 4G pricing with the convenience of a shareable hotspot. Make sure the MiFi you buy is unlocked (most Amazon UK listings clearly state this), and keep your UK SIM in your phone if you also want to receive UK calls over Wi-Fi.
Note for UK network-branded MiFi (e.g., PAYG units from Vodafone/Three): these often ship locked to the UK network and are intended for UK data plans. Using them abroad typically relies on UK roaming policies and daily charges. Three’s current Go Roam includes Sri Lanka on its destination list, but using a UK data plan abroad usually incurs a daily unlock fee (e.g., a per-day charge to use your UK allowance). Always check the latest roaming fees before relying on a UK plan for Sri Lanka.avvy visitors might explore the eSIM route for convenience.)
Conclusion: Get Connected Easily and Enjoy Your Trip
In summary, Sri Lanka makes it very easy for travelers to get connected right after landing.
At Colombo’s Bandaranaike International Airport, you can quickly purchase a prepaid SIM card at an official counter, often for just a few pounds, and gain access to a generous amount of data that will likely last your whole trip.
The benefits of using a local SIM are clear – you avoid outrageous roaming fees, you get a local phone number for taxis and hotel calls, and you’ll have reliable internet throughout your journey.
The process is hassle-free: airport staff will set everything up for you, and if you have any trouble finding the SIM kiosks, an airport transfer driver or staff member can guide you.
Sri Lanka’s mobile networks (especially providers like Dialog and Mobitel) offer solid coverage and speed, so you can navigate with Google Maps, hail rides, upload photos, and stay in touch with ease from the moment you arrive.
While options like pre-arranged pocket Wi-Fi units exist for those who need them, most travelers will find that buying a local SIM is the best solution for connectivity.
It’s remarkably affordable and gives you the freedom to explore without worrying about finding Wi-Fi or incurring roaming charges.
Just remember to unlock your phone before the trip and keep your passport handy for the SIM purchase. With your phone online and ready to go, you’ll be set to fully enjoy Sri Lanka’s beautiful sites and cultural experiences.
Safe travels, and enjoy your Sri Lankan adventure while staying conveniently connected!
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