
Best Tourist Sim Cards in Sri Lanka in 2025
Choosing a sim card is hard. We've analysed the best tourist sim cards in Sri Lanka across pricing, coverage and data. Find out the best pick!

If you’re planning a trip to Sri Lanka, having a sim card is essential. Having internet access while traveling makes navigating new cities a breeze. From finding the best restaurants to getting directions to your accommodation, booking a taxi, and sharing photos with your family, having a sim card allows you to stay connected on the go.
While roaming is an option, the fees can quickly add up when traveling internationally. Therefore, we highly recommend either getting an eSIM or a local sim card to access local phone rates.
The good news is that obtaining either an eSIM or a local sim card in Sri Lanka is incredibly convenient. In this comprehensive guide, we will provide all the information you need to know about purchasing a sim card in Sri Lanka, including updated pricing and the best sim card options available.
The best sim card in Sri Lanka is the Dialog tourist sim card which costs 1399 LKR and includes a generous 30GB of data valid for 1 month. Dialog’s mobile network is the best in Sri Lanka and it’s easy to pick up a sim card either at the airport or in an official store in Colombo or Negombo.
Mobitel is also great with pretty much just as good coverage and speeds as Dialog – they’re a very close second. Their tourist sim cards are similarly priced at 1,540LKR for 30GB data valid for 1 month. Mobitel does also offer a cheaper plan that is valid for just 7 days at 821 LKR – a great choice for anyone staying for less than a week.
A Tourist Sim Card in Sri Lanka costs 1399 LKR in February 2025, however, the exact price will often depend on the store you visit and the plan you choose.
Alternatively, an eSim in Sri Lanka will cost between $7 USD and $15 USD. This, again, depends on how much data you require and which eSim provider you choose.
I generally recommend this Airalo plan for most tourists visiting Sri Lanka which includes 3GB of data which is valid for 30 days and costs $15 USD.
There are two main sim card providers in Sri Lanka: Mobitel and Dialog. Both providers are great choices for tourists looking to explore the country and have great coverage along the way.
I tried both and was impressed with the coverage I received pretty much the entire time I was in the country. From the beach towns in the south, to up in the mountains of Ella, I was rarely without internet – usually just for some intermittent moments on the trains.
Dialog is slightly cheaper and is renowned to have a slightly better network overall, however, the difference is unnoticeable and you’ll be totally fine with either network.
Mobitel is the second largest telecommunications company in Sri Lanka after its acquisition of SLT. Their tourist sim cards are well priced and offer heaps of data making them well suited for tourists.
The network overall is very reliable and extensive with fast download speeds. I experienced great connectivity in all sorts of places – usually the typical spots that tourists visit – with Mobitel.
The price of a Mobitel (SLT) tourist sim card in Sri Lanka is 1540 LKR.
The plan offered by Mobitel (SLT) stores includes 30GB data valid for 30 days.
Dialog is the largest sim card provider in Sri Lanka and boasts the best mobile network. With Dialog I found the signal was good all over the country.
Their plans are slightly cheaper and offer great value. For this reason combined with their slightly better mobile network I highly recommend picking up a Dialog sim card.
There are booths at the airport that I recommend picking up a sim card from, however, you may find they cost a little bit more here – up to 2,000 LKR. If you want to save some money you can look for an official store in Colombo or Negombo, however, I don’t consider this to be worth the effort.
The price of a Dialog tourist sim card in Sri Lanka is 1399 LKR.
The plan offered by Dialog stores offers 20GB data valid for 30 days.
Identify the mobile providers in Sri Lanka: Mobitel (SLT), Dialog and are your best options in Sri Lanka.
Find your nearest store: Locate a store or retailer by searching on Google Maps for your nearest store or asking at your hotel reception. I’ve never had issues finding a store as they can be found all over any major cities, shopping centers, or tourist areas. You can’t buy sim cards in airports in Sri Lanka. If you’re on a budget it is usually cheaper to use the airport wifi instead and purchase your sim card in a store near your hotel.
Bring the necessary documents: It is mandatory in Sri Lanka to bring your passport into the store so that the staff can register it with your sim card. Without this, Mobitel (SLT), Dialog or staff will be unable to sell you a sim card.
Choose your plan: Either request the plan you are after or consult with the staff in the store to select the right plan for you. My recommendations at the beginning of this guide are likely to be your best option, for example the prepaid plan by Mobitel (SLT) that includes 30GB data for 1540 LKR.
Pay and activate your card: You can expect to pay 1399 LKR to purchase your sim card. The staff in-store will help you install the sim card and activate it for you.
Test: It’s always a good idea to check that you can access the internet before you leave the store. I always try searching for something on Google then refresh my Instagram feed to check it’s working fine before leaving. If it’s not, the staff will be able to help you adjust your settings.
Buying a prepaid sim card for Sri Lanka at the airport is usually considered the most convenient option for travellers arriving by plane.
However, airport stores selling sim cards are almost guaranteed to charge inflated prices, so if you are a cost-conscious traveller then you should definitely buy your sim card from a store in the city center.
In addition to this, we would argue that buying physical sim cards at all aren’t particularly convenient now that most people use esim compatible phones. If you are looking for the most convenient option, then buying an esim before you arrive or with the airport wifi is much easier and will save you having to queue up or communicate with staff.
If you must purchase a sim card at the airport in Sri Lanka then you will be in luck. All major international airports in Sri Lanka have stores selling sim cards. Despite the prices being higher than normal, the staff are knowledgable and will be able to get you set up with the correct sim card relatively quickly.
If you want to avoid the inflated sim card prices you’ll find at the airport and your phone isn’t esim compatible, then you’re going to need to head in to a store to buy your sim card.
I recommend visiting one of the official retail stores of the mobile internet operators such as Mobitel (also SLT), SLT Mobitel and Dialog. Your best option is to enter their names into Google Maps and find the branch closest to your hotel or accommodation. Typically the staff in the official stores in Sri Lanka are knowledgable and helpful which means you can ensure you’ll walk away with a functioning sim card.
Despite this, it’s always a good idea to check your internet is working before you leave the store by loading a Google search results page and your preferred social media app. You should also ensure you always bring your passport with you when purchasing a sim card in case they need to register it.
If you like to be prepared and would prefer to arrive in Sri Lanka with your sim card all sorted and your phone ready to connect to the internet immediately then you should look into purchasing a sim card online.
The first option is to buy your sim card in advance via SimOptions, which is a company that will prepare and ship a sim card directly to your door. It’s a reliable and effective service, but with the invention of eSims it’s becoming obsolete.
The better option is to purchase an eSim online. We’ve written more on that below!
An eSim is a digital version of a traditional sim card and is most likely the future of connectivity for mobile devices. The convenience of no longer visiting a store, handing over your passport and purchasing a physical sim card is quickly making physical sim cards obsolete in favour of eSims.
We recommend Airalo’s eSim when travelling to Sri Lanka. The Airalo Sri Lanka eSim offers fast internet speeds, wide coverage and extremely competitive prices making it a far more compelling option than purchasing a physical sim card from any of the local sim card providers.
In order to get set up with an Airalo eSim, all you need to do is visit Airalo here and purchase the eSim online (the $15 USD plan is suitable for most travellers). Once you’ve purchased the sim card Airalo will email you instructions and a QR code. Following these instructions should take just a couple of minutes, then you’ll have a sim card in Sri Lanka without having to venture outside.
Our preferred eSim provider in Sri Lanka is Airalo. We used them, alongside a local sim card on another device, for our most recent trip to Sri Lanka and found the service to be equal to the local sim card but without the hassle of acquiring a sim card in a store.
Airalo’s Sri Lanka eSim uses the Dialog and Mobitel networks to provide data and connect users to the internet. You can expect very good coverage and reliability with the Dialog and Mobitel networksnetwork as they are amongst the best mobile internet operators in Sri Lanka.
Here are the plans and prices for Airalo’s Sri Lanka eSim:
1GB data valid for 7 days – Price: $7 USD
3GB data valid for 30 days – Price: $15 USD
For most travellers we recommend the 3GB data plan for $15 USD which is valid for 30 days. Some travellers may prefer a larger plan, whilst travellers visiting for just a couple of days may be fine with a smaller plan.
An alternative eSim provider we can recommend is Holafly.
Holafly’s eSim is a suitable option for travellers who require large amounts of data, such as digital nomads and people who work online while they travel. All of Holafly’s Sri Lanka eSims offer unlimited data.
Holafly’s Sri Lanka eSim uses the Mobitel / Dialog Axiata Plc / Hutchison Telecommunications Lankanetwork to provide data and connect users to the internet. This network will provide reliable speeds and coverage while in Sri Lanka
Here are the plans and prices for Holafly’s Sri Lanka eSim:
Unlimited data valid for 5 days – Price: $19 USD
Unlimited data valid for 7 days – Price: $27 USD
Unlimited data valid for 10 days – Price: $34 USD
Unlimited data valid for 15 days – Price: $47 USD
Unlimited data valid for 20 days – Price: $54 USD
Unlimited data valid for 30 days – Price: $64 USD
Unlimited data valid for 60 days – Price: $84 USD
Unlimited data valid for 90 days – Price: $99 USD
An eSIM, also known as an embedded SIM, is a digital version of a SIM card that is built directly into a device, such as a smartphone, tablet, or smartwatch. This eliminates the need for a physical card to be inserted or removed.
Instead, the eSIM is part of the device’s hardware and can be remotely activated and programmed by a mobile network operator. This allows users to easily switch between different mobile networks or plans without the need to physically change SIM cards.
The use of eSIM technology offers convenience, flexibility, and simplicity, especially for travelers or individuals who frequently switch between different mobile networks or travel abroad. It eliminates the requirement to purchase and insert physical SIM cards, making it simpler to manage multiple mobile connections on a single device.
To activate an eSIM, users can either scan a QR code given by their mobile network operator or manually enter the activation details. Once activated, the device connects to the chosen mobile network, providing access to voice calls, data usage, and messaging services, just like a traditional SIM card.
eSIM technology is becoming increasingly popular and is supported by a growing number of smartphones and other devices. Here are some examples of eSIM-compatible phones:
Apple iPhone series (iPhone 11, iPhone 12, iPhone 13, etc.): Apple was one of the early adopters of eSIM technology and offers support for eSIM on various iPhone models.
Google Pixel series (Pixel 3, Pixel 4, Pixel 5, etc.): Google’s Pixel smartphones also support eSIM functionality, allowing users to activate and use eSIMs.
Samsung Galaxy series (Galaxy S22, Galaxy Note 20, etc.): Many of Samsung’s flagship devices now come with eSIM support, enabling users to utilize eSIM technology.
OnePlus devices (OnePlus 7, OnePlus 8, etc.): OnePlus has included eSIM support in some of its smartphone models, offering users the flexibility of using eSIMs.
Motorola Razr (2020): The latest iteration of the iconic Motorola Razr features eSIM compatibility, enabling users to use eSIMs for cellular connectivity.
These are just a few examples, and the list of eSIM-compatible phones continues to expand as more manufacturers embrace this technology. There’s a very strong chance your phone supports eSims so if you’re unsure we recommend looking it up on our list of eSim supported phones.
Hi, I’m Mitchell. I’m a full-time traveller, explorer and travel blogger. I've travelled all around the world, using and testing countless travel sim cards along the way. I'm the founder of and writer for Travel Sim Expert where I write guides to help travellers stay connected all around the world.
Hi, I’m Mitchell. I’m a full-time traveller, explorer and travel blogger. Travel Sim Expert is a blog dedicated to helping you find the best sim card for you, no matter where you are or what your budget is.
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