Getting a tourist SIM or eSIM in Sri Lanka

The easiest way to get a SIM in Sri Lanka is at Colombo airport: Dialog, SLT-Mobitel, Hutch and Airtel have counters in the arrivals hall, after customs, open 24 hours. Bring your passport, because every SIM must be registered to its user. Most tourist plans cost about 800 to 2,500 rupees (checked October 2026). eSIMs are also available.

We have no arrangement with any operator or eSIM seller, and this page has no affiliate links. This guide compares what each operator offered when we checked, and explains the rules that apply to every SIM.

Which mobile networks are there in Sri Lanka?

Sri Lanka has three mobile network companies: Dialog, SLT-Mobitel and Hutch. You will also see Airtel shops and SIMs, but since 2024 Airtel has been part of Dialog.

Can you buy a SIM card at Colombo airport?

At Colombo's Bandaranaike International Airport, the counters of Dialog, SLT-Mobitel, Hutch and Airtel are in the arrivals hall, after customs. They are open 24 hours, so you can buy a SIM even if you land at night.

You can also order a Dialog SIM online before you fly and collect it at the Dialog airport store, with your passport and order number. For the rest of your arrival, see Negombo or Colombo for your first night.

How does buying a SIM at the counter work?

1. After customs, find the operator counters in the arrivals hall.
2. Choose a plan. The counter staff will show you the current tourist plans and prices.
3. Hand over your passport. The SIM is registered to you before it is activated.
4. Let the staff insert the SIM, or set up the eSIM, and check that data works before you leave the counter.
5. Note your new Sri Lankan number. You will need it for drivers, guesthouses and ride apps.

Missed the airport? Buying a SIM in town

If you skip the airport counters, you can buy a tourist SIM in town. Dialog sells it at its service centres and authorised retailers across the island, and SLT-Mobitel at any of its outlets. Bring your passport: it is the only document they ask for. Hutch's website does not say where visitors can buy its SIM, so ask at a Hutch shop.

Do you need a passport to buy a SIM card?

By law, every SIM in Sri Lanka must be registered to the person using it, with an identity document, and for a visitor that means the passport.

The SIM is registered to your passport, and Sri Lanka's telecoms regulator holds the registered owner responsible for how it is used. Do not buy a SIM for someone else, and do not hand yours on when you leave.

How much is a tourist SIM card in Sri Lanka?

Prices include tax and were checked in October 2026. They change often, so check at the counter.

Dialog

• 1,399 rupees for 20 GB, 30 days.
• 1,799 rupees for 30 GB, 30 days.
• 2,450 rupees for 50 GB with unlimited WhatsApp, 30 days.
• Each includes a small amount of call credit.

SLT-Mobitel

• 821 rupees for 15 GB over 7 days.
• 1,540 rupees for 30 GB over 30 days.
• 5,131 rupees for 30 days of data with a fair-use limit.
• All include unlimited local calls and 1,000 texts.

Hutch and Airtel

Hutch did not show a tourist plan on its website when checked in October 2026; ask at its airport counter. Airtel's tourist SIM page lists pay-as-you-go rates only: 0.30 rupees per MB of data and 1.50 rupees a minute for outgoing calls, plus government taxes.

How long plans last

Most tourist plans last 30 days. SLT-Mobitel also has a 7-day plan. When a plan runs out, you can buy another one or add credit.

To put the prices in context: at the Central Bank's rate of about 331 rupees to the US dollar on 2 October 2026, 1,399 rupees is a little over 4 US dollars. See money in Sri Lanka.

Which tourist SIM plan should you choose?

The plans differ in two ways: how long they last, and how much data they include.

• A short stay of a week or less: SLT-Mobitel's 7-day plan, 821 rupees for 15 GB, is the only 7-day option listed.
• A two-week trip: a 30-day plan covers it. Dialog's 1,399-rupee plan gives 20 GB; SLT-Mobitel's 1,540-rupee plan gives 30 GB with unlimited local calls.
• Heavy use, such as uploading photos and video every day: Dialog's 50 GB plan at 2,450 rupees, or SLT-Mobitel's fair-use plan at 5,131 rupees.
• If you call local numbers often: the SLT-Mobitel plans include unlimited local calls and 1,000 texts.

All prices as checked October 2026. When a plan runs out, you can buy another one or add credit, so you do not need to buy the largest plan at the start.

Can you get an eSIM in Sri Lanka?

Dialog, SLT-Mobitel and Hutch all offer eSIMs to visitors. Dialog sells its tourist eSIM online and at its airport stores. SLT-Mobitel issues one at its airport counter, at its shops, or through its online eSIM portal. Hutch says foreign visitors can get an eSIM online. You still need your passport, and your phone must support eSIM.

International travel eSIMs, bought online before you fly, also work in Sri Lanka. They run on a Sri Lankan network, such as SLT-Mobitel or Hutch. Many are data only, so you get no local phone number.

Which to choose? A local plan gives you a Sri Lankan number, which helps when a driver, guesthouse or tour operator needs to call you. An international eSIM means you land already connected. Both work.

Is your phone unlocked?

A Sri Lankan SIM or eSIM works only if your phone is not locked to your home network. Check before you travel: only your home provider can unlock it. On an iPhone, go to Settings, General, About; "No SIM restrictions" next to Carrier Lock means it is unlocked.

Is there 4G and 5G in Sri Lanka?

Mobile data runs mainly on 4G. Dialog and SLT-Mobitel also offer 5G in some areas; you need a 5G phone to use it. For a remote place, check the operator's coverage map before you go.

How do you top up a Sri Lankan SIM?

To add credit, pay online on the operator's website or app, or pay at one of its shops or shop-front retailers. With Dialog, you start a tourist plan by topping up its exact price, or by dialling #778#.

Is WhatsApp widely used in Sri Lanka?

WhatsApp is widely used for business in Sri Lanka. Dialog lets you order a SIM through WhatsApp, Hutch takes customer questions on it, and Dialog's largest tourist plan includes unlimited WhatsApp.

Do you need data for PickMe and Uber?

You can book a tuk-tuk with the PickMe or Uber app. PickMe covers most of the island, including Colombo, Kandy and Galle. Uber covers fewer areas: Colombo and nearby districts, Kandy, Galle, and since 2026 Kegalle, Ratnapura and Kurunegala (as checked October 2026). Both need a working data connection, so set up your SIM or eSIM before you leave the airport. Our guide to tuk-tuk prices explains how app prices compare with street fares.

Which emergency numbers should you save?

In an emergency, call 119 for the police or 1990 for an ambulance. For tourist information and help, call 1912, the Sri Lanka Tourism hotline. It is not an emergency number.

What most visitors miss about SIM cards in Sri Lanka

• The counters are open 24 hours. A night arrival is not a problem.
• The passport is required, for SIMs and eSIMs.
• Your phone must be unlocked. Check before you leave home.
• The SIM stays registered to you. Do not give it away when you leave.
• An app booking needs data. Ride apps such as PickMe and Uber need a working connection.

Before you land: SIM checklist

• Phone checked: unlocked, and eSIM-capable if you want an eSIM.
• Passport in your hand luggage, not in the checked bag.
• Plan prices checked at the counter (from 821 to 5,131 rupees for the plans above, as checked October 2026).
• 119, 1990 and 1912 saved in your phone.
• The SIM kept, or cut up, when you leave. Do not hand it on.

Questions people ask

Where can I buy a SIM card in Sri Lanka?

At Colombo airport, the counters of Dialog, SLT-Mobitel, Hutch and Airtel are in the arrivals hall, after customs, and open 24 hours. Bring your passport.

How much is a tourist SIM in Sri Lanka?

As checked in October 2026, Dialog's tourist plans cost 1,399 rupees for 20 GB, 1,799 for 30 GB or 2,450 for 50 GB, each for 30 days. SLT-Mobitel's cost 821 rupees for 15 GB over 7 days or 1,540 for 30 GB over 30 days. Prices change, so check at the counter.

Can I use an eSIM in Sri Lanka?

Yes. Dialog, SLT-Mobitel and Hutch all offer eSIMs to visitors, and international travel eSIMs also work. You still need your passport for a local one, and your phone must support eSIM.

Do I need a passport to buy a SIM?

Yes. By law, every SIM in Sri Lanka must be registered to the person using it, with an identity document; for a visitor, that means the passport.

Which network is best in Sri Lanka?

We do not rank operators. Mobile data runs mainly on 4G, and Dialog and SLT-Mobitel also offer 5G in some areas. For a remote place, check the operator's coverage map before you go.

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Coming soon: Sri Lanka Before You Land, our pre-trip ebook, explains what to sort out before you board, from the ETA to your phone. A free guide, Your First Week in Sri Lanka, will cover the first days on the ground.