To ensure your international trip goes smoothly and stress-free, it’s important to arrange reliable mobile service in advance. You’ll need it for everything: contacting family or friends, navigating routes, messaging your car rental support team, booking hotels, using online translators, or checking restaurant reviews.
Sri Lanka has a well-developed mobile network infrastructure, especially in major cities, tourist hubs, and along main highways. In this guide, we’ll cover the island’s mobile operators, help you choose the best option for a self-drive trip, review popular tourist plans, and look at alternative connectivity solutions.
Mobile coverage in Sri Lanka is generally very good. Networks support 3G, 4G, and 5G, and most of the island is within coverage areas. You may experience interruptions in Yala, Somawathiya, and Wilpattu National Parks, as well as in the highland regions of Nuwara Eliya, Kandy, and Ella. Even there, a 2G signal is often available. In jungle areas, reception is usually limited to the beginning of the route.
If your itinerary includes only major cities and popular tourist destinations, you won’t need to worry much about choosing a local operator — coverage is consistently reliable in those areas.
Despite the good overall coverage, we recommend downloading Google Maps, Maps.me, and Waze before your trip and saving the required maps for offline use. This ensures access to navigation even if you enter a coverage gap or temporarily lose internet due to weather or technical issues.
Local mobile service in Sri Lanka is relatively inexpensive, especially compared to European roaming rates. There are four main operators on the island:
If you plan to rent a car upon arrival and explore the island by road, we recommend choosing either Dialog or Mobitel. They offer the best combination of price, coverage, and service quality.
We have compiled the tariffs valid for 2026 in separate tables for each operator.
Dialog Plans
Price | 1399 LKR (4.5 $) | 1799 LKR (6 $) | 2499 LKR (8 $) |
Validity | No expiry | No expiry | No expiry |
Data | 20 GB | 30 GB | 50 GB |
Local calls | ~100 min | ~100 min | ~200 min |
Included in package | Included in package | Unlimited |
Mobitel Plans
Price | 820 LKR (2.5 $) / 7 days | 1540 LKR (5 $) / 30 days | 2999 LKR (10 $) / 30 days | 5131 LKR (17 $) / 30 days |
Validity | 7 days | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days |
Data | 15 GB | 30 GB | 90 GB | Unlimited |
Local calls | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Included in package | Included in package | Included in package | Unlimited |
The easiest option for travelers is to buy a SIM card with a tourist data package and a set number of minutes. The best place to do this is at the airport.
Mobile operator counters are located right after the baggage claim area. Staff speak good English and will help you choose a plan based on your needs and length of stay. They’ll activate the SIM card, show you how to check and top up your balance, install the app if needed, and switch the interface to English.
SIM cards at the airport are usually about 2–3 $ more expensive than at official stores. However, the convenience and speed of setup — and the ability to contact family, your rental service, or hotel immediately — make the small price difference worthwhile.
Reaching a store in a shopping mall without mobile service in an unfamiliar city can be far less convenient.
To purchase a local SIM card, you only need your passport and about 5–7 minutes. SIMs are available in both physical and eSIM formats.
Frequent travelers increasingly choose international tourist eSIMs instead of local SIM cards. Popular providers include Yesim, Drimsim, and Airalo. These eSIMs can be set up remotely once and used in more than 200 countries, including Sri Lanka. You simply change the location in the app to access the appropriate plans.
Advantages of tourist eSIMs:
If you plan to travel around Sri Lanka in a rental car, staying connected is essential: you’ll need to communicate with the rental support team, check routes, update hotel bookings, and search for fuel stations or cafés.
To maintain constant access to these services, choose an operator with strong coverage or use a tourist eSIM. The latter is especially convenient because it automatically connects to the strongest available local network, reducing coverage gaps.
The size of your data package isn’t critical for navigation: Google Maps, Maps.me, and Waze use very little data in offline or economy modes. However, if you plan to work online frequently, consider an unlimited plan to avoid unexpected interruptions.
As in much of Asia, Wi-Fi quality in Sri Lanka varies by location and venue. Large hotels and reputable restaurants — especially in tourist areas like Mirissa, Hikkaduwa, Colombo, and Nuwara Eliya — usually provide stable internet. In smaller hotels and guesthouses, Wi-Fi may be paid or unreliable due to older equipment and network congestion.
A major advantage is the abundance of coworking spaces for digital nomads. In places like Weligama, Ahangama, Colombo, and Arugam Bay, you can easily find a desk, meeting room, or full office space. Prices start from about 1200 LKR (3.5 $) per day.
Simply search for “co-working” in your maps app and navigate to the most convenient location.
We understand how important uninterrupted internet access is during a trip. Here’s a quick guide to help you stay connected.
The easiest way is through the operator’s mobile app. If you prefer not to install it, use these codes:
You can top up using a bank card through the operator’s app or website. However, not all cards are accepted in Sri Lanka. If your card doesn’t work, buy a scratch card — available in most shops and street kiosks.
Top-up codes:
Mobile internet and phone service in Sri Lanka allow travelers to use essential apps and stay in constant touch with family or friends. The island’s operators offer reliable connections, wide coverage, and a range of tourist packages.
You can either arrange an international tourist eSIM in advance or buy a local SIM card after landing — counters for all four operators are available at the airport.
Choose your plan based on your needs. If you’re staying for a week and only need internet for navigation, a 20 GB Dialog package will be enough. If you’re planning a month-long stay or working remotely, an unlimited Mobitel plan is a better choice.