Data Roaming in Sri Lanka for Tourists 2024: Rates & How to Avoid it

When traveling, most travelers rely on mobile data roaming, but charges can be expensive. This comprehensive guide provides all the essential information you need to know about data roaming with your cell phone in Sri Lanka. Also this will give travelers some tips or perfect alternatives to avoid high roaming charges!

I. Overview of Data Roaming in Sri Lanka for Tourists

Here is some useful information about phone roaming in Sri Lanka:

• Roaming rates are quite high, depending on your home country and mobile operator you choose.

• Sri Lanka’s four main carriers are Airtel, Mobiletel, Hutch, Dialog. Your carrier must have roaming agreements to connect to these networks.

• Roaming can be activated by contacting your home provider before travel. They will enable it with prepaid credit or add it to your existing mobile plan.

• There is no permanent roaming ban in Sri Lanka but providers may temporarily suspend roaming during major events for network management.

II. How Roaming in Sri Lanka Works

Roaming allows you to connect to a local Sri Lanka network instead of your home network, enabling you to browse, use apps, and stay connected.

• Finding a local network: When you arrive in Sri Lanka, your phone automatically searches for a compatible network operator, such as Dialog, Mobitel, or Hutch.

• Connection and charges: Once connected, your phone usage is billed according to the agreement between your home operator and the Sri Lanka network. These charges can be significantly higher than your regular plan. 

III. Roaming Charges in Sri Lanka – Is It Expensive?

Roaming in Sri Lanka has become significantly cheaper than before, with maximum rates ranging from $1 to $12 per gigabyte (GB) for pay-as-you-go users without an international plan.

However, the actual amount you’ll pay depends on the specific roaming rates and fees set by your cellular provider for Sri Lanka. These charges can be categorized into two types:

• Bundled Roaming Rates: Monthly cell plans often include roaming deals that charge a daily flat rate for international usage or a fixed rate per GB used while abroad.

• Pay-Per-Use Rates: If you exceed the bundled roaming data allowance or don’t have a bundle, pay-as-you-go rates per megabyte (MB) or gigabyte (GB) of roaming data apply in addition to your regular bill for usage in Sri Lanka

IV. How to Activate Roaming Service for Sri Lanka in Your Cell Phone?

To activate roaming services, you just need to take 4 steps:

Step 1: Choose your preferred service provider

You need to determine the service provider first. 

You can either keep your home mobile plan or go for a local cellular carrier

If you keep your home cellular plan and assume that your home network carrier is one of the following brands, here is what to expect:

Mobile network carrier	Roaming fees
Three	5 USD / day
Vodafone	6 USD / day
Rogers	15 USD / 10 MB
Verizon	2.05 USD / MB
AT&T	2.05 USD / MB
T-Mobile	70 USD for 5 days

If you choose a local mobile carrier, and activate its roaming service, the recommended local providers for roaming services are Dialog, Mobiletel, Hutch or Airtel.

Sri Lanka  mobile network carrier	Roaming fees
Dialog	3GB / 30 days / $1.7
Hutch	2.7GB / 30 days / $1
Mobiletel	$1-50 for  Prepaid Roaming Plans $5-40 for Postpaid Roaming Plans
Airtel	$3/1GB/day

Step 2: Activate the roaming function for your service provider

Each mobile network carrier has a different way to activate roaming service. You had better refer to the official website of the chosen operator for more detail.

For example: for Vodafone: download My Vodafone (Vodafone’s app) > get the option named “International roaming” > choose your destination country > Done, you get it.  

Step 3: Buy a mobile package with roaming

Why is the roaming package important? 

Regular roaming rates are usually expensive. Buying roaming packages will warrant that you will not break the bank with roaming charges.

Pro Tip: 

• It is recommended to buy a roaming package one day before departure because the package often starts right after purchase.
• Choose the roaming package that suits your needs and budget accordingly. For example, choose an unlimited package (if any) if you are a heavy data user. Alternatively, choose a roaming package with a limited data volume if you only use data when necessary. 

Step 4: Turn on your phone’s roaming

On Android: Settings > Tap on “Data roaming” > Turn “International Roaming” on

On iOS (iPhone): Settings > Cellular > Tap on “Data roaming”

V. How to Avoid Roaming Charges To Save Money When Traveling to Sri Lanka

To summarize, there are three primary options to avoid excessive roaming fees in Sri Lanka:

• Turn off Cellular Data Roaming: Disable the use of cellular data in your phone’s settings to prevent background data usage while traveling internationally.

• Use eSIM Data Plans: Opt for local data SIMs, such as eSIMs, which allow you to pay local rates and avoid roaming fees altogether.

• Connect to WiFi Only: Make use of free WiFi hotspots to connect to the internet, which eliminates the need for roaming data and helps prevent additional charges.

VI. Sri Lanka eSIM – Alternative to Data Roaming in Sri Lanka to Get Internet

Another alternative to completely avoid roaming charges in Sri Lanka is to use an eSIM data plan during your visit. 

eSIM allows you to activate a mobile data plan digitally, eliminating the need for a physical SIM card. eSIM plans are directly connected to the embedded SIM in your phone.

Advantages of eSIM for Sri Lanka:

• No roaming fees at all.

• Access to local data rates in Sri Lanka, avoiding inflated roaming charges.

• Short-term data packages tailored to your trip duration.

• High-speed and low-latency data on local networks.

• Option for unlimited data packages.

One provider offering eSIM data packages for Sri Lanka is GIGAGO. You can get fast LTE data starting from just $7.9 by purchasing a Sri Lanka eSIM package from GIGAGO. Obtain a Sri Lanka eSIM package from GIGAGO before your trip, and you’ll be ready to explore upon arrival!

For Sri Lanka, Gigago offers multiple data plan options, starting from 1 GB for 7 days with $7.90 . What is great about Gigago’s Sri Lanka eSIM is that its plans’ costs are diversifying, varying between $7.90 – $16.50 . Thus, it does not matter how Internet users you are and how long your trip is in Sri Lanka, there is always an option for you with Gigago.

VII. How to Turn Off Data Roaming When Traveling in Sri Lanka

If you rather not pay roaming charges and want to disable data connectivity during your trip, here’s how to turn off roaming in Sri Lanka on both Android and iPhones when in Sri Lanka:

1. Turn Off International Roaming on Android Phones

On Android devices, go to Settings > Network & Internet > Mobile Network:

• Disable Roaming access entirely

• Disable data roaming specifically

This will prevent your phone from connecting to local carriers via roaming when in Sri Lanka. Confirm by checking the network name displayed does not change when in Sri Lanka.

2. Turn Off International Roaming on iPhones

On iPhones, go to Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options:

• Disable Data Roaming option

• Alternatively can enable Airplane Mode which disables all connections

• Double check that your iPhone does not connect to Dialog or Mobiletel networks and avoids roaming fees.

VIII. FAQs

Data roaming in Sri Lanka is more expensive than other options like pocket wifi or SIM cards for Sri Lanka. To reduce costs, selectively enable data in airplane mode, use WiFi instead of cellular data, and limit streaming. For longer trips or heavy usage, affordable Sri Lanka eSIM plans avoid roaming fees. Understanding roaming charges and taking steps to minimize bills ensures a smoothly connected Sri Lanka trip without surprises