Welcome to Sri Lanka A Handbook for US Fulbright Grantees US – SL Fulbright Commission (US-SLFC) 55 Abdul Cafoor Mawatha Colombo 3 Sri Lanka Tel: + 94-11-256-4176 Fax: + 94-11-256-4153 Email:
[email protected] Website: www.fulbrightsrilanka.com Contents Map of Sri Lanka Welcome Sri Lanka: General Information Facts Sri Lanka: An Overview Educational System Pre-departure Official Grantee Status Obtaining your Visa Travel Things to Bring Health & Medical Insurance Customs Clearance Use of the Diplomatic pouch Preparing for change Recommended Reading/Resources In Country Arrival Welcome-pack Orientation Jet Lag Coping with the Tropical Climate Map of Colombo What’s Where in Colombo Restaurants Transport Housing Money Matters Banks Communication Shipping goods home Health Senior Scholars with Families Things to Do Life and Work in Sri Lanka The US Scholar in Sri Lanka Midterm and Final Reports Shopping Useful Telephone Numbers Your Feedback Appendix: Domestic Notes for Sri Lanka (Compiled by U.S. Fulbrighters 2008-09) The cover depicts a Sandakadaphana; the intricately curved stone base built into the foot of the entrances to buildings of ancient kingdoms. The stone derives it’s Sinhala name from its resemblance to the shape of a half-moon and each motif symbolises a concept in Buddhism. The oldest and most intricately craved Sandakadaphana belongs to the Anuradhapura Kingdom. 2 “My preparation for this long trip unearthed an assortment of information about Sri Lanka that was hard to synthesize – history, religions, laws, nature and ethnic conflict on the one hand and names, advice, maps and travel tips on the other.