Stay online in Sri Lanka from the moment you land in Colombo. Install a data eSIM before you fly, skip the SIM counter in arrivals, and keep your usual number for calls and texts while you use maps, ride-hailing apps and WhatsApp from the coast to the hill country.
Sri Lanka eSIM
Sri Lanka eSIM plans
Every plan is data only, priced in US dollars, with no contract and nothing to return.
Our picks
Three plans we would buy ourselves, by the trip you are taking. Every plan we sell is listed below.
Short trip
4.2 GB
0.6 GB a day
7 days
A week or so away: maps, messages, rides and the odd video call.
$1.31 per GB
$5.49
Buy this planLong trip
22.5 GB
1.5 GB a day
15 days
Two weeks or more, with room for photos, streaming and work email.
$0.80 per GB
$17.99
Buy this planHeavy use
Unlimited data
7 days
You stream, work online or share your connection every day.
Full speed for the first 5 GB each day
$21.99
Buy this plan
Fixed data
One allowance for the whole trip, used at your own pace.
Daily data
A fresh allowance every day, slower above it until the next day.
Unlimited data
No cap on data, with a fair-use speed limit after heavy daily use.
Also covered by Asia Pacific
One eSIM that also works in the other countries of the bundle, for a trip that crosses borders.
See every country in Asia Pacific
Also covered by Global (170 countries)
One eSIM that also works in the other countries of the bundle, for a trip that crosses borders.
See every country in Global (170 countries)
Also covered by Global (75 countries)
One eSIM that also works in the other countries of the bundle, for a trip that crosses borders.
See every country in Global (75 countries)
No eSIM, no charge. If your payment goes through and we cannot issue your eSIM, we refund you in full. Refund policy
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Local networks. See which ones it uses in Sri Lanka
Which Sri Lanka plan fits your trip
Sri Lanka plans come in two shapes. The plan cards above show the days and data on sale:
- Daily data suits steady use. The 0.6 GB a day plans cover maps and messages at the lowest price; the 1.5 GB a day plans add photos, rides and the odd video call. A loop through the Cultural Triangle, the hill country and the south coast is steady from day to day, so this is the usual pick.
- Unlimited suits heavy users, video calls and remote work from Weligama or Hiriketiya. A fair-use policy applies; the plan details say how.
See fixed, daily or unlimited for how each type behaves. Combining Sri Lanka with the Maldives or India? Check the global plans further down for one install, or see our India page.
Landing in Colombo
International flights arrive at Bandaranaike International, north of Colombo near Negombo. Install the eSIM at home while you are on your own Wi-Fi, then turn on data roaming for the eSIM line once you are off the plane. You can then message your driver or book a ride before you reach the exit. PickMe and Uber both run in Colombo and the larger towns.
Coverage on the road and on the train
Coverage is good in Colombo, Negombo, Kandy, Galle, Ella, Mirissa and along the south and west coasts. The famous train through the hill country passes tunnels and deep valleys, so expect the signal to come and go between Kandy and Ella. It also thins out in the national parks such as Yala and Wilpattu, on the climb to Adam's Peak and on the quieter east coast away from Trincomalee and Arugam Bay. Download your train tickets and offline maps before you set out.
How much data do you need?
A typical traveler using maps, ride-hailing, messaging and photos uses about 1 GB a day. Video calls, streaming and working from a laptop push that up, so remote workers are better served by an unlimited plan.
Networks in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka's mobile networks are Dialog, the largest, SLT-Mobitel and Hutch. A travel eSIM connects to one of them as a roaming partner, which is why data roaming must be on for the eSIM line. The partner network can differ from plan to plan, so check the plan details, or ask us at support@esimlounge.com before you buy.
How to install your eSIM
Install it at home before you fly, then switch it on when you land.
Check your phone
Your phone must support eSIM and be carrier unlocked. Most phones from the last few years do.
Scan the QR code
Scan the code from your email while you still have Wi-Fi at home. It takes about two minutes.
Switch on when you land
Turn on the eSIM line and data roaming for it. Keep your usual SIM for calls and texts if you like.
Sri Lanka eSIM questions
Is an eSIM cheaper than my own carrier's roaming in Sri Lanka?
Usually, by a wide margin. UK, US and Australian carriers typically charge a daily pass for each day you use your phone in Sri Lanka, and over a two-week trip those passes cost several times more than a plan here. Check your own plan's roaming terms to compare.
Does it work on the Kandy to Ella train?
On and off. The line runs through tunnels and deep valleys, so the signal comes and goes. Download your tickets and anything you want to watch before you board.
Should I buy a SIM card at Colombo airport instead?
For data, an eSIM is simpler: you set it up at home, skip the counter in arrivals and keep your usual SIM in the phone. A local SIM gives you a Sri Lankan phone number, which a travel eSIM does not. For maps and messaging, the eSIM does the job.
Can I use PickMe, Uber and WhatsApp with it?
Yes. The eSIM gives you mobile data, so ride-hailing apps, WhatsApp, Google Maps and your banking apps work as they do at home. Calls on WhatsApp and FaceTime work over the data too.
Will I keep my phone number?
Yes. Your usual SIM stays in the phone for calls and texts, and the eSIM carries your mobile data. Keep data roaming off on your usual SIM to avoid roaming fees from home.
When does the plan start counting days?
On most plans the days start when the eSIM first connects to a network in Sri Lanka, not when you install it. The plan details say how yours works.