Prices in pounds · O2 prices checked 6 November 2026
O2 roaming in Sri Lanka vs a travel eSIM
In Sri Lanka, O2 uses its O2 Travel prices. Here is what that costs for a long weekend, a week and a fortnight, next to a data-only travel eSIM for the same trip.
صورة: Petr Sevcovic on Unsplash
O2 vs eSIM in Sri Lanka: 3, 7 and 14 days
O2’s lowest published option in Sri Lanka for each trip length, next to a Graba SIM Sri Lanka plan with about 0.7 GB a day.
- 3 days
- 7 days
- 14 days
O2 roamingGraba SIM eSIM
| Trip | O2 | Graba SIM eSIM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| A long weekend3 days | £21.00£7 a day × 3 | £5.995GB, 30 days | The eSIM is £15.01 less |
| A week7 days | £49.00£7 a day × 7 | £5.995GB, 30 days | The eSIM is £43.01 less |
| A fortnight14 days | £98.00£7 a day × 14 | £10.4910GB, 30 days | The eSIM is £87.51 less |
What’s included: O2: unlimited calls, texts and data, at up to 2 Mbps. Graba SIM: data only, prepaid; your O2 SIM stays in your phone for calls and texts. Graba SIM prices are live; O2 prices checked 6 November 2026.
Sources: O2 roaming (checked 6 November 2026). Prices change; check before you buy.
Graba SIM Sri Lanka plans: data, validity and total price
The 20GB plan costs much more than the smaller sizes here. At about 0.7 GB a day, most week-long trips need around 5 GB.
Each plan is a one-off price for one eSIM. It starts when it first connects in Sri Lanka, and hotspot use comes out of the same data.
Using your phone in Sri Lanka
- CMB Colombo Bandaranaike
- HRI Mattala
- Colombo and Negombo
- Strong signal in both, including at the airport.
- Kandy and the Cultural Triangle
- Good in Kandy, Sigiriya and Dambulla towns; rural roads can be patchy.
- The hill country train
- The Kandy to Ella line passes through tunnels and tea country where signal comes and goes.
- The south coast
- Good in Galle, Mirissa and Unawatuna. National parks such as Yala have gaps.
Networks our Sri Lanka plans use: Hutch
- A typical route moves every day or two. Save hotel addresses and train tickets offline, as the hill country has gaps.
- Ride apps such as PickMe and Uber work in Colombo and Kandy and need data to book and track rides.
Going further with O2
- Maldives (a beach week in the Maldives): O2 charges Standard rates.
- India (a combined trip to southern India): O2 charges £7 a day.
What you get for the money
O2 Travel Bolt On
- £7 a day, charged only on days you make a call, send a text or use data. Receiving calls and texts doesn’t trigger it.
- Calls to the UK and within the destination are included; calls to other countries are not.
- O2 Travel starts a 24-hour charge the first time you call, text or use data. Receiving calls and texts doesn’t start it.
Graba SIM Sri Lanka eSIM
- 4 plan sizes for Sri Lanka, from 1GB, 7 days to 20GB, 30 days, each a one-off price.
- Runs on Hutch in Sri Lanka, with 5G where the network offers it.
- Data only. Your O2 SIM stays on for calls and texts, so bank codes still reach you in Sri Lanka.
O2 in Sri Lanka: questions
How much does O2 roaming cost in Sri Lanka?
£7 a day with the O2 Travel Bolt On: unlimited calls, texts and data, at up to 2 Mbps. For a trip, that is 3 days: £21.00 (£7 a day × 3); 7 days: £49.00 (£7 a day × 7); 14 days: £98.00 (£7 a day × 14).
Is a travel eSIM cheaper than O2 in Sri Lanka?
It depends on the trip. Comparing O2’s lowest published option with a Graba SIM plan of about 0.7 GB a day: 3 days, the eSIM is £15.01 less; 7 days, the eSIM is £43.01 less; 14 days, the eSIM is £87.51 less. O2’s price also includes unlimited calls, texts and data, at up to 2 Mbps.
Is there signal on the Kandy to Ella train?
For much of the journey, yes, but it drops in tunnels and in the deepest valleys. Download anything you want to watch before you board.
Does a Sri Lanka eSIM work in the Maldives?
No. A Sri Lanka plan covers Sri Lanka only. For a twin-centre trip, add a Maldives plan for the second week.