Current Time in Sri Lanka
Check local time in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte and all Sri Lanka cities. Sri Lanka uses IST (UTC+5:30).
Sri Lanka Quick Facts
🕐Time Zones in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka uses IST (UTC+5:30) year-round. Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte is the capital and largest city.
Daylight Saving Time observance in Sri Lanka varies. Check current local time using our tool to ensure accuracy, especially during spring and autumn when DST transitions typically occur.
Major Cities in Sri Lanka (1 cities)
Click on any city to see detailed local time, sunrise/sunset times, and weather information.
📞Best Time to Call Sri Lanka
Calling Sri Lanka from the US requires careful planning due to the significant time difference. If you're on the East Coast (EST), try calling between 8:00 PM and 10:00 PM, which will be morning time in Sri Lanka. West Coast callers (PST) can call between 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM. For UK callers, early morning calls work best.
Standard business hours in Sri Lanka are typically 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM or 6:00 PM local time, Monday through Friday. Standard business hours in Sri Lanka are typically 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM or 6:00 PM local time, Monday through Friday. Government offices and banks may have shorter hours. Many businesses close for lunch, especially in Southern European, Latin American, and Asian countries.
✈️Time-Related Travel Tips for Sri Lanka
When traveling to Sri Lanka, expect significant jet lag if coming from Europe or the Americas. Allow 1-2 days to adjust to the time difference. Most Sri Lanka hotels will have alarm clocks, but setting your phone to local time immediately upon arrival helps. Multiple languages are spoken including Sinhala and Tamil. Business meetings often start punctually, so account for traffic when planning.
💡Interesting Facts About Time in Sri Lanka
- Despite its size, Sri Lanka uses only one time zone, simplifying scheduling across the entire country.
- The capital Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte is the political center of Sri Lanka with a total national population of 22M.
- Many Asian countries, including Sri Lanka, historically based their time zones on Beijing or Tokyo time during different periods.
- Time zone boundaries don't always follow geographical lines - they're often adjusted for political, economic, or practical reasons.
- The concept of standardized time zones was developed in the 19th century with the expansion of railways, replacing local solar time.
About Time in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka uses a single time zone (IST (UTC+5:30)). This makes it relatively straightforward to coordinate times across the country.
The capital city Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte serves as the political and often economic center of Sri Lanka. Major business activities are spread across cities including Colombo.
When planning international calls, video conferences, or business meetings with contacts in Sri Lanka, it's important to consider the time difference. IST (UTC+5:30) is the most commonly referenced time zone for Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka uses the Sri Lankan Rupee (₨) as its official currency. The international dialing code is +94. Multiple languages are spoken, including Sinhala, Tamil.
Cities in Sri Lanka
Explore local time in 1 city across Sri Lanka:
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YemenFrequently Asked Questions About Time in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka uses IST (UTC+5:30). The capital Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte uses IST (UTC+5:30).
Daylight Saving Time observance in Sri Lanka varies. Check current local time using our tool to ensure accuracy, especially during spring and autumn when DST transitions typically occur.
Calling Sri Lanka from the US requires careful planning due to the significant time difference. If you're on the East Coast (EST), try calling between 8:00 PM and 10:00 PM, which will be morning time in Sri Lanka. West Coast callers (PST) can call between 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM. For UK callers, early morning calls work best.
Standard business hours in Sri Lanka are typically 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM or 6:00 PM local time, Monday through Friday. Government offices and banks may have shorter hours. Many businesses close for lunch, especially in Southern European, Latin American, and Asian countries.
Sri Lanka uses the Sri Lankan Rupee (₨) as its official currency. The international dialing code is +94. Official languages include Sinhala, Tamil.