Quick answer: +94 is Sri Lanka. Every Sri Lankan number has 9 digits after +94. Mobiles start with 7. If the number you were given starts with 0, drop the 0. Example:
+94 77 123 4567.
How to dial Sri Lanka
| Calling from | Dial |
|---|---|
| Any mobile phone | +94 + 9 digits |
| US or Canada landline | 011 94 + 9 digits |
| UK, Italy, UAE or Saudi Arabia landline | 00 94 + 9 digits |
| Australia landline | 0011 94 + 9 digits |
Sri Lankans write numbers with a leading 0, like 077 123 4567 or 011 234 5678. That 0 is only for calls inside Sri Lanka. From abroad, leave it out: 011 234 5678 becomes +94 11 234 5678.
Mobile and landline numbers
Mobiles are 9 digits after +94, starting with 70, 71, 72, 74, 75, 76, 77 or 78. In Sri Lanka they are written 077 123 4567. They have no area code.
Landlines are a 2-digit area code plus a 7-digit local number, 9 digits together.
| City | Area code in Sri Lanka | From abroad |
|---|---|---|
| Colombo | 011 | +94 11 xxx xxxx |
| Kandy | 081 | +94 81 xxx xxxx |
| Galle | 091 | +94 91 xxx xxxx |
| Jaffna | 021 | +94 21 xxx xxxx |
| Negombo | 031 | +94 31 xxx xxxx |
| Matara | 041 | +94 41 xxx xxxx |
| Kurunegala | 037 | +94 37 xxx xxxx |
| Anuradhapura | 025 | +94 25 xxx xxxx |
| Trincomalee | 026 | +94 26 xxx xxxx |
| Batticaloa | 065 | +94 65 xxx xxxx |
Some area codes look like country codes. Galle is 091, so +94 91 is a Galle landline, not a call to India.
Codes that get mixed up with +94
+91 is India and +95 is Myanmar.
Time difference
Sri Lanka is on UTC+5:30 all year, the same as India, with no daylight saving time. The gap changes when your own clocks change.
| Where you are | Your clocks on summer time | Your clocks on standard time |
|---|---|---|
| US East Coast or Toronto | Sri Lanka is 9h 30m ahead | Sri Lanka is 10h 30m ahead |
| UK | Sri Lanka is 4h 30m ahead | Sri Lanka is 5h 30m ahead |
| UAE | Sri Lanka is 1h 30m ahead all year | |
| Saudi Arabia, Kuwait or Qatar | Sri Lanka is 2h 30m ahead all year | |
| Sydney or Melbourne | Sri Lanka is 5h 30m behind | Sri Lanka is 4h 30m behind |
A 9 PM call from Toronto reaches Sri Lanka at 6:30 AM the next day in the Canadian summer and 7:30 AM in the Canadian winter.
Prefer calling over WiFi? See our guide to the best apps for WiFi calling.
FAQ
Can I call a Sri Lankan hotline like 1990 from abroad?
Usually not. Three- and four-digit hotlines such as 1990 (ambulance) only work on Sri Lankan networks. Look for the organization's full number, such as a Colombo landline, and dial it as +94 11 followed by 7 digits.
Why won't my call to +94 go through?
Check three things: you left out the leading 0, you have exactly 9 digits after +94, and you dialed 94, not 91 or 95.