Sri Lanka is a beautiful, mystical country that lies right at the heart of Asia. Many people visit here to see rare wild animals such as the tiger, gaur and dholes. However, there’s much more to the region than just flora and fauna. Shopping is also a favorite pastime for locals and international tourists alike.
Rules and Cultures
It’s prohibited by law to have a tattoo of god Buddha on the arm or any other conspicuous part of the body, those found displaying such images in public would be arrested by police and even deported if their tattoos are found to have any religious connotation. Smoking in front of people is also not allowed especially in transport stations such as inside the train and bus, violators would be booked under Sri Lanka’s laws and charged for these transgressions.
Shopping Hints
1. Tourists can withdraw money from their credit or debit cards at various ATMs across the country, some of the brands that are accepted include Cirrus, MasterCard, Visa Electron and Maestro but always ensure that the logo is openly displayed before inserting your card lest it’s eaten by the machine. Not every teller machine accepts global cards, only a few such as the Commercial Bank do.
2. Beware of tuktuk drivers who may pretend to show you where to get cheap jewelry, but are instead paid by the shop owners who sell fake items to take advantage of unsuspecting tourists. Unless you’re an expert on gem inspection don’t buy such items no matter how attractive they may look at first glance.
3. Save money by shopping at thrift or secondhand stores, there are many antique and rare artifacts that can be found at these stores and the best thing about them is that they are very affordable. Another great saving tip is visiting the clearance section of the store, which is usually located at the very back corner. Don’t be easily distracted by the new expensive goods displayed up front, just head straight towards the back section and take advantage of clearance deals. You can purchase five or more clearance items in Sri Lanka for the cost of one, this way one can expand their wardrobe without draining out the entire bank account.
4. Check out whether the store has clip coupons. In simple words, this is free money which retailers and manufacturers give in order to increase customer loyalty. You can find them in magazines, mail and even online at reputable sites. Using coupons to shop while spending the vacation in Sri Lanka can save you tons of cash. Closely related to coupon offers are the store sales, most shopping stalls in the country offer special discount perks to customer especially at the end of popular seasons such as Christmas.
With this technique, items that could have otherwise been sold at high prices can retail at 70% less their original price.
Shopping in Sri Lanka can be a fun experience that would be remembered many years later, those interested in visiting this place should remember to get an official Sri Lankan Visa and enjoy their trip trouble-free.
