What To Wear In Sri Lanka?

What should a tourist wear while in Sri Lanka? Even I googled this question before I packed my bags for Sri Lanka. I did not get much insights but I realized how indifferent was Sri Lanka from India. Sri Lanka is not conservative but still demands an attire that does not attract unwanted stares and glares. Before leaving for this wonderful tropical island country, I had no idea about the Sri Lankan people and their culture. I knew Buddhist religion is major there and some percentage of Christians & Muslims also existed there. It is a popular tourist destination for Saudi Arab & Asian countries. So it’s a mix. Now it is very easy for tourists to get confused, specially for the ladies, as in what to wear, specially on the irresistible beaches.  Now given that the temperature may vary from 27 degree to 32 degrees celsius during day time, one would not want to cover from head to toe. But how much you should cover up to become one of them?

What Should A Tourist Wear In Sri Lanka?

Not just Sri Lanka, you must ensure you pack clothes according to your destination, be it any foreign country. Sri Lanka is an Island to the south of India and  has an identical culture to South India. The Island is beautiful and surrounded by The Indian Ocean. It receives two monsoons as western & southern monsoons. The climate of the island remains almost the same throughout the year. It’s a fabulous destination for family vacations & back packers offering conventional tourist places as well as adventures.

What Sri Lankan People Wear?

No brownie points for guessing what the Sri Lankan local men wear. They prefer the very usual shirt & trousers. On the beach you might spot them in shorts. But they are always with decent clothing and no showing off 6 packs.

coming on the ladies, the traditional attire of Sri Lankan beauties is a Sari :). I saw a lot of sari clad women just at the airport. The officials too were wearing a sari infect. I also learned about a new way to wear a sari, the Sri Lankan way. It looked beautiful with a frill at the waist. Check out the picture below:

But not every one there wear a sari, The very common trend is to wear a skirt that goes below knees, and ends at calves paired up with a short-sleeved top with decent neck line. So the locals really topped the decency score here. I spotted few teenage girls wearing denim and trousers, bit the percentage was very low. The Sri Lankan people know how to keep a tradition alive.

What Kind Of Clothes You Should Wear In Sri Lanka?

Obeying the climate of Sri Lanka, cotton is your best friend in Sri Lanka. Pack light weight clothes even for hill stations during summer/monsoon. 

As a tourist, man can pack their shorts for beach fun and water sports. A capri for a long summer day to travel around the city. Also cotton trousers are your perfect companions when you don’t know where you are going. Specially for religious places like temples, you might want to cover yourself to show respect to their traditions.

Ladies, now I know a vacation means to be free to wear anything and not following a dress code like you do for your office meeting, but you must adhere to local trends and guidelines so that you do not offend people. I would say Sri Lankan people are very humble, polite & warm, hence you might not want to get them talking by exposing more than expected.

For a long summer day, ideally a short-sleeved top with a cotton trouser or long skirt would make you a fit. But if you can also choose to wear a capri with sleeveless top / spaghetti top. But in the later case, you might want to keep a stole/sarong handy so that you can cover your shoulders when required. This will protect you from sun also.

While visiting a religious place in Sri Lanka, make sure to wear something that covers your shoulders and legs. Otherwise, it might look offensive to the local people there.

What A Woman Should Wear On A Beach in Sri Lanka?

Well, don’t lose heart if I say cover yourself a bit. You can actually wear whatever you want to, on a beach, in your hotel or even on eating places where there is an international crowd. A pair of Denim shorts is never going out of fashion and is very common among tourists visiting Sri Lanka. While strolling around a beach, taking a trip to nearby markets, you can wear shorts as is quite expected out of the tourists. But try not to expose your bosom also. 

Can I Wear A Bikini in Sri Lanka?

Surprisingly Yes. I know you might be like, I said cover up. But hey, the Sri Lankan people are very logical and they understand, beaches mean bikini. You got it, You flaunt it. No excuse. No regrets. 

They won’t stare at you. I promise. You can take a dip in the sea wearing your favorite pair of Victoria Secret and no ugly stares. Please swim in the infinity swimming pool that your hotel offers wearing a swim wear, that’s highly expected out of you. Even ask your man to wear swim wear and not just to jump wearing his underpants because that is very unsightly for others.

What Not To Wear In Sri Lanka?

Well, I think I have made it clear where to wear what. Depending upon the place & occasion you have to pick your outfit. It’s simple & involves no equations to solve. Even if you don’t really wanna go by the code, no one will really care to pass a judgement. Tourists could be ignorant, the locals understand.

 

 

I am in love with the hospitality Sri Lakan people offered. They really try to go beyond expected to make you feel comfortable. Like we were served Indian food even in the breakfast since my kid was making a fuss. They don’t mind taking extra requests, because they want you to feel welcomed & pampered.

I loved this beautiful country. Every inch of the country offers natural beauty, with which no picture can do justice.

 

Hope this post could help someone who is really looking for this information. Please share it across your channel.

Lots Of Love.

Nisha