Quick answer
For the ground, wear light, loose cotton or linen, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, with your team shirt if you like; Australian colours are welcome. For temples, cover shoulders and knees and wear shoes you can slip off. Add a light jacket for Kandy evenings and the hill country, neutral colours for safaris, and smart-casual clothes for hotel restaurants. Avoid clothing showing the Buddha and military-style camouflage.
Key takeaways
- Light, loose cotton or linen and a wide-brimmed hat are the basics for the ground.
- Australian team shirts and colours are welcome at Sri Lankan grounds.
- Temples need covered shoulders and knees, with shoes and hats removed.
- The hill country and Kandy evenings can be cool, so pack a light layer.
- Avoid clothing with Buddha images and military-style camouflage.
At the ground
Days at the cricket in Sri Lanka are hot and humid, with temperatures often around 30 degrees and high humidity on the coast. Loose cotton or linen shirts, shorts or light trousers and breathable shoes are the most comfortable choice. A wide-brimmed hat does more than a cap, since many stands are uncovered.
Team colours are part of the fun. Australian shirts, the green and gold and even the odd inflatable are welcomed by Sri Lankan crowds, who often want photos with visiting fans. Keep the banter friendly, as the locals do.
Pack two or three shirts per Test, as you will sweat through them, and use the hotel laundry between days.
- →Loose cotton or linen, wide-brimmed hat.
- →Team shirts and colours are welcome.
- →Two or three shirts per Test.
On rest days: temples and sacred sites
Rest days often include temples, from the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy to the Dambulla caves and the temples near Galle. Sacred sites require covered shoulders and knees, for men and women. A sarong or light scarf in a day bag solves this quickly.
Shoes and hats come off at the entrance, and the ground can be hot underfoot by midday, so socks help. Avoid wearing a team cap into a shrine, and remove sunglasses inside.
Some temples rent or lend sarongs at the gate, but carrying your own is easier.
- →Shoulders and knees covered.
- →Shoes and hats off; socks for hot ground.
- →Carry a sarong or scarf.
Evenings and dining
Most evenings are relaxed: shorts and a clean shirt are fine in Galle Fort cafes and beach restaurants. Better hotel restaurants and bars in Colombo expect smart-casual clothes, with long trousers and closed shoes for men in some places.
Pack one smarter outfit for a celebration dinner, such as the end of a series or a special night out.
Lankan Stays & Trails usually reminds travellers to pack one smart outfit, as dinners at heritage hotels in Galle and Kandy are often highlights of the trip.
- →Casual for most evenings.
- →Smart-casual for good hotel restaurants.
- →One smarter outfit for a celebration.
Safaris, hills and the beach
For a safari at Yala or Minneriya, wear neutral colours such as khaki, olive or beige, and bring a light layer for the early start. In the hill country, Nuwara Eliya and Horton Plains can be cold at dawn, so a fleece or light jacket is worth packing.
At the beach, swimwear is fine on the sand and at the pool, but cover up when walking through town or into shops. Topless sunbathing is not allowed.
In a mid-year tour, a light rain jacket or umbrella is useful for showers in Galle, Colombo and Kandy.
- →Safaris: neutral colours, a layer for dawn.
- →Hills: a fleece or light jacket.
- →Beach: cover up in town.
What to leave at home
Clothing showing images of the Buddha is considered disrespectful and can lead to problems with the authorities. Military-style camouflage is best avoided too, as it can draw attention from police. Very revealing clothing is out of place in towns and at sacred sites.
Leave expensive jewellery at home, and keep valuables out of sight at the ground.
Shoes deserve a thought too. Sandals are easiest for temples, where they come off at the door, while closed shoes with good grip suit the ground, the fort ramparts and wet streets in a mid-year tour. A pair of each covers almost every day of the trip.
- →No Buddha images on clothing.
- →No camouflage prints.
- →Leave expensive jewellery at home.
Frequently asked questions
What should you wear to the cricket in Sri Lanka?
Wear light, loose cotton or linen clothes, a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses and comfortable shoes. Days are hot and humid, and many stands are uncovered. Australian team shirts and colours are welcome, and Sri Lankan fans often ask for photos with visiting supporters.
Can you wear an Australian cricket shirt in Sri Lanka?
Yes, Australian shirts and colours are welcome at Sri Lankan grounds and in towns. Sri Lankan crowds are friendly towards visiting fans and often want photos. Change into something modest before visiting a temple, where covered shoulders and knees are required.
What should you wear to temples in Sri Lanka?
Cover your shoulders and knees, whether you are a man or a woman. Remove shoes and hats at the entrance, and take off sunglasses inside. Carry a sarong or light scarf for quick cover, and wear socks if the ground is hot underfoot at midday.
Do you need warm clothes for a cricket trip to Sri Lanka?
You need a light layer for Kandy evenings and the hill country, where Nuwara Eliya and Horton Plains can be cold at dawn. On the coast, it stays warm day and night. A fleece or light jacket and long trousers are enough for most trips.
Is camouflage clothing banned in Sri Lanka?
Military-style camouflage can draw attention from police in Sri Lanka and is best left at home. Clothing showing images of the Buddha is also considered disrespectful and can cause serious problems. Plain colours and team shirts are the simplest choice.
How many shirts should you pack for a Test in Sri Lanka?
Pack two or three shirts per Test, as the heat and humidity mean you will change often. Most hotels and guesthouses offer laundry, usually returned the same or next day, so you can travel light and wash between match days.
What should you wear on a safari in Sri Lanka?
Wear neutral colours such as khaki, olive or beige, with a light layer for the early morning start. A hat, sunglasses and sunscreen help in an open jeep. Avoid bright colours, which can disturb wildlife, and bring a scarf for the dust.