Sri Lanka Etiquette: Customs, Dress Code and Temple Rules

In short: Sri Lanka is relaxed and welcoming, but a few rules matter. Cover your shoulders and knees and remove shoes and hats at temples, never pose with your back to a Buddha statue, keep swimwear for the beach, use your right hand to eat and give, and expect alcohol to be off sale on full moon (Poya) days.

In this guide

• Sri Lanka etiquette in a nutshell
• What to wear in Sri Lanka
• Temple rules: dress, shoes and Buddha images
• Poya days: the monthly full moon holiday
• Everyday manners
• Money: tipping and bargaining
• Wildlife and the sea

Sri Lanka etiquette in a nutshell

Sri Lanka etiquette is easy to get right. This is a warm, tolerant country where a smile and a bit of effort go a long way, and nobody expects visitors to know every custom. But Sri Lanka is also a deeply religious place, mostly Buddhist with large Hindu, Muslim and Christian communities, and a handful of rules are taken seriously. One or two are enforced by law.

This guide covers what to wear, how to behave at temples, and the everyday manners that will make your trip smoother. If you are still planning, our first-timer's guide to backpacking Sri Lanka is a good place to start.

What to wear in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is hot and humid on the coast and noticeably cooler in the hills, so pack light, loose clothes plus one warm layer. Dress is modest by European beach-holiday standards. In towns and villages most local women cover their shoulders and wear skirts or trousers to the knee or below, and men rarely walk around shirtless.

• On the beach: bikinis and swim shorts are completely normal on tourist beaches such as Mirissa, Unawatuna and Arugam Bay. Topless and nude sunbathing are not allowed anywhere.
• Off the beach: put a T-shirt and shorts or a sarong on before you walk into town, a shop or a restaurant.
• In the hill country: Ella, Kandy and especially Nuwara Eliya can be chilly in the evening and on early train rides. A jumper or light jacket earns its place in your bag.
• At religious sites: shoulders and knees covered, for everyone. More on that below.
• Buddha images on clothing: leave T-shirts, sarongs and bags printed with the Buddha at home. Wearing his image as decoration is considered disrespectful.

Tip: Carry a light sarong or scarf in your day bag. It turns shorts and a vest into temple-ready clothes in ten seconds, and it doubles as a beach towel and a blanket on the train.

What you need changes with the season and the coast you are on, so check our month-by-month guide to Sri Lanka's weather before you pack.

Temple rules: dress, shoes and Buddha images

You will visit temples in Sri Lanka whether you plan to or not: the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, the cave temples at Dambulla and the ancient cities of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa are highlights of almost every route. The rules are the same at all of them.

• Cover your legs and shoulders. This applies to men and women. At the Temple of the Tooth you will be turned away at the gate if you are not covered.
• Take off your shoes and your hat before you enter. There is usually a shoe stand at the entrance for a small fee.
• Never pose with your back to a Buddha statue. This is the rule that catches people out. Selfies with the Buddha behind you are seen as turning your back on him, and visitors have been in real trouble for it. Photograph the statue itself, facing it, and stay out of the frame.
• Do not touch, climb on or sit beside statues, and do not point your feet at them when you sit down.
• No flash on ancient murals, and look out for signs banning photos altogether.
• Walk clockwise around stupas and bodhi trees, keeping them on your right.

These are not just manners. The UK government's travel advice for Sri Lanka says plainly that disrespecting Buddhist images and artefacts is a serious offence that can lead to arrest, and that visitors with visible Buddha tattoos can be refused entry or deported. If you have one, keep it covered for the whole trip, including at the airport.

Tip: Temple courtyards are scorching by midday and you will be barefoot. Go early, or bring a pair of socks: they are allowed at most temples and they save the soles of your feet.

Monks

Buddhist monks are held in the highest respect. Do not offer a handshake, and women should avoid touching a monk or handing anything to him directly. On buses and trains the front seats are reserved for clergy, so give them up if a monk boards. If you would like a photo, ask first.

Hindu temples, mosques and churches

Hindu kovils follow the same basics: shoes off, shoulders and knees covered. In some kovils in the north, men are asked to remove their shirts before entering. At mosques, women should cover their hair as well, and visitors are not admitted at prayer times.

Poya days: the monthly full moon holiday

Every full moon is a public holiday in Sri Lanka, called a Poya day. Each one marks an event in the Buddha's life, and families dress in white and spend the day at the temple.

For travellers it means two things. Temples are busier and more atmospheric than usual, which is lovely to see. And alcohol is not sold on Poya days: bars close, shops will not sell it, and most hotels and restaurants stop serving. Meat can be harder to find too. Plan ahead, and avoid drinking in public on the day itself, which would be insensitive.

The biggest Poya of the year is Vesak, the full moon in May, when towns are hung with paper lanterns. The Kandy Esala Perahera, a ten-night procession of dancers, drummers and decorated elephants in July or August, is the island's most famous festival.

Everyday manners

Greetings and the head wobble

The traditional Sinhala greeting is "Ayubowan" (may you live long), said with palms pressed together and a slight bow. In Tamil-speaking areas it is "Vanakkam". A handshake is fine too, especially with men. You will also meet the Sri Lankan head wobble, a gentle side-to-side tilt that usually means yes, okay or I understand.

Right hand, left hand

Use your right hand to eat, to pay and to pass things to people. The left is traditionally kept for washing. Rice and curry is eaten with the fingertips of the right hand, and it genuinely tastes better that way, but nobody minds if you ask for a spoon and fork.

Homes and hospitality

Take your shoes off when you enter a home, and many guesthouses too. If you are offered tea, accept it: Sri Lankans are proud of their tea and their hospitality in equal measure.

Affection and behaviour in public

Holding hands is fine, but kissing and anything more is kept private, whoever you are with. Sri Lankan law is conservative here, so check the UK government's travel advice if you want the detail. Losing your temper in public achieves nothing; patience and a smile work far better.

Photos

Ask before you photograph people, especially monks, stilt fishermen (who expect a tip for posing) and tea pickers. Do not photograph military bases, government buildings or official vehicles, and do not fly a drone near them.

Money: tipping and bargaining

Tipping is not compulsory in Sri Lanka, but it is appreciated and many people in tourism rely on it. Many restaurants add a 10% service charge to the bill. Where they do not, leaving around 10% for good service is generous. Small tips for porters and hotel staff are welcome, and drivers and guides are usually tipped at the end of a trip.

Bargaining is normal for tuk-tuks without a meter and at markets, and it should stay friendly. Agree the fare before you get in, or use a ride app in the bigger towns so the price is set for you. Shops, supermarkets and restaurants have fixed prices.

Wildlife and the sea

Sri Lanka's elephants are best seen wild, from a jeep in a national park such as Udawalawe or Minneriya, rather than at shows or riding camps. Keep your distance from wild elephants on the roads, and do not feed monkeys or stray dogs.

Many beaches have strong currents at certain times of year. Ask your guesthouse or guide where it is safe to swim before you go in. If you would rather have someone else handle the route, the trains and the temple tickets, our 12-day Backpacking Sri Lanka trip and the longer 15-day trip take in temples, tea country, a wildlife safari and the beaches, and there is a ready-made route in our 15-day Sri Lanka itinerary.

Why book with Backpacking Tours?

Sri Lanka rewards travellers who go with people who know it. On our small-group trips a group leader or local guide handles the trains, the temple tickets and the timing, and tells you what to wear before you get turned away at the gate. Trips are for travellers aged 20 to 45, most of whom come solo, with accommodation, transport, the main activities and a set number of meals included.

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