Will it work all the way round the island?
In towns and on main roads, yes. Expect gaps on hill country train stretches, in national parks and on remote beaches. Save maps for each stop before you leave Wi-Fi.
Prices in pounds · for UK travellers
eSIM for Sri Lanka from the UK
Colombo, Kandy, the Ella train and the south coast? See where signal holds up on the classic route, and what a travel eSIM costs in pounds next to roaming.
Photo: Petr Sevcovic on Unsplash
- QR code by emailinstall before you fly
- Keep your UK numberdata-only eSIM
- 24/7 live chatin the Graba SIM app
- Pay your way
Before you buy: straight answers
How much data does a two-week tour need?
About 1 GB a day covers maps, ride apps and messages. A 15 or 30-day plan with 10 GB suits most two-week routes.
Should I buy it before I fly?
Yes. Install it at home on Wi-Fi, so you have data at Colombo airport for your driver or ride app, with no SIM counter queue.
What your trip to Sri Lanka costs
Set your trip length and how you use your phone. eSIM bars are data-only plans that cover the whole trip; UK network bars use your UK allowance and include calls and texts. EE and Vodafone don’t publish a price for Sri Lanka that we can check, so they aren’t charted.
Sources: O2 roaming (checked 6 November 2026) · Three roaming (checked 6 November 2026) · Airalo fixed-data plans (checked 9 November 2026). Prices change; check before you buy.
Sri Lanka eSIM
How long is your trip?
Pick the trip that sounds most like yours. Every plan is data only, paid once, with no contract.
Prices in GBP
Not sure? Answer 3 quick questionsWe’ll show the maths behind our suggestion.
Swipe to compare plans
On every plan here
- Uses Hutch
- Starts when you first connect, so you can install it before you fly
- QR code by emailInstall it in minutes
- Keep your numberData only, your SIM stays in
- 24/7 live chatIn the Graba SIM app
- Pay onceNo contract, guest checkout
More options
Other sizes for different kinds of trip.
Only need a day?
A day pass gives you full-speed data for one day, then slower data for the rest of the day.
500MB to 10GB a day
From £2.99
See day passesHow we choose these plans
For each trip we pick the current plan that costs the least while lasting the whole trip and gives about 0.3 to 0.7 GB a day, enough for maps, messages and social media. A plan may last longer than the trip. Everyone uses data differently, so check your phone’s recent data use. “Best value” only appears when that plan also costs the least per GB of all the plans that fit.
Arriving in Sri Lanka
- CMB Colombo Bandaranaike
- HRI Mattala
International flights land at Colombo Bandaranaike (CMB), about an hour north of Colombo. Drivers and tuk-tuk apps work best with data from the moment you land.
Signal where people go
- 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
Your UK network in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is outside the EU, so Europe roaming deals on UK plans don’t cover it. What each network publishes for Sri Lanka, and a week of it:
| Network | What it charges | 7 days | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|
 EE | Varies by plan EE doesn’t publish one price for every country: it prices roaming by destination, plan and start date. Check EE’s roaming tool for Sri Lanka. | No published price | EE roaming |
| O2 | O2 Travel £7 a day with the O2 Travel Bolt On: unlimited calls, texts and data, at up to 2 Mbps. | £49.00£7 a day × 7 | O2 in Sri Lanka vs eSIM |
| Vodafone | Check Vodafone Check what Vodafone charges in Sri Lanka in its roaming charge checker. Its European roaming passes only cover Zone B. | No published price | Vodafone roaming |
 Three | Go Roam Around the World £8 a day in Go Roam Around the World (£5 on plans from 2021 to 2025), or £30 for a 7-day pass. Unlocks your UK calls, texts and up to 12 GB of your UK data. | £30.007-day pass | Three in Sri Lanka vs eSIM |
Sources: EE (checked 29 October 2026) · O2 (checked 6 November 2026) · Vodafone (checked 29 October 2026) · Three (checked 6 November 2026). Prices change; check before you buy.
Graba SIM vs Airalo: the same plans, side by side
Plans with exactly the same data allowance and validity for Sri Lanka, both data-only and priced in pounds. Coverage and networks can differ, so check the plan details before you buy.
Highlighted: the lower price for each plan. Holafly sells unlimited data only, priced in US dollars, so it isn’t in this like-for-like table.
Sources: Airalo fixed-data plans (checked 9 November 2026). Prices change; check before you buy.
Compare prices for Sri Lanka
Know before you go
- 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.
- Sri Lanka is outside the EU, so Europe roaming deals on UK plans don’t cover it. Check your network’s rate before you go.
Crossing a border from Sri Lanka?
A Sri Lanka plan covers Sri Lanka only. This is what your UK network charges next door:
| Going on to | O2 | Three | Vodafone | eSIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maldivesa beach week in the Maldives | Standard rates | Standard rates | Check Vodafone | Maldives plans |
| Indiaa combined trip to southern India | £7 a day | £8 a day (Go Roam Around the World Extra) | Zone D: daily fee | India plans |
Set it up before you fly
- Check your phone is unlocked and supports eSIM on our compatibility page.
- Install the plan at home on Wi-Fi with our iPhone or Android guide.
- When you land at Colombo Bandaranaike, switch mobile data to the eSIM and turn on data roaming for it only.
Questions about Sri Lanka
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.
Is a travel eSIM cheaper than roaming in Sri Lanka?
For a week with about 0.7 GB a day, the Graba SIM 5GB, 30 days plan costs £5.99, less than each published UK network option for Sri Lanka (the lowest is Three at £30.00). UK network prices include calls and texts; the eSIM is data only.
What do UK networks charge in Sri Lanka?
EE: EE doesn’t publish one price for every country: it prices roaming by destination, plan and start date. Check EE’s roaming tool for Sri Lanka. O2: £7 a day with the O2 Travel Bolt On: unlimited calls, texts and data, at up to 2 Mbps. Vodafone: Check what Vodafone charges in Sri Lanka in its roaming charge checker. Its European roaming passes only cover Zone B. Three: £8 a day in Go Roam Around the World (£5 on plans from 2021 to 2025), or £30 for a 7-day pass. Unlocks your UK calls, texts and up to 12 GB of your UK data.
What if something goes wrong?
Live chat in the Graba SIM app is open 24/7. Email and contact-form requests are answered Monday to Friday.
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