Sri Lanka: Harbours, bridges and formalities for sailors
1 harbour
Sri Lanka: 1 harbour, clearing in, papers and fees. Plan your trip with weather, tides and route.
Formalities
outside the EU customs unionCurrency: Sri Lankan rupee
Clearing in: The harbour for yachts is Galle on the south coast (also Trincomalee). An agent is compulsory and registers the yacht in advance; call Galle Port Control on VHF channel 16 before entering, the navy inspects the boat. Entry with the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA).
Ausreise: Clear out through the agent with immigration, customs and the port authority.
Documents: Passport valid for six months; Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before entry. Ship's papers, insurance, crew list, clearance from the last port.
Fees: Fees of the agent and the Sri Lanka Ports Authority by boat size and length of stay, reportedly several hundred US dollars.
Fairway: South of Dondra Head runs the shipping lane with heavy traffic (traffic separation scheme), plus many fishing boats without lights. Southwest monsoon from May to September with rough seas on the southwest coast.
Nature: Marine reserves Hikkaduwa and Rumassala near Galle: anchoring on coral and fishing prohibited.
Tropical storm season: Cyclones in the Bay of Bengal tend to hit the east coast, mostly from October to December.
Emergency: 119 police, 110 rescue; Sri Lanka Navy via VHF channel 16.
Sources: Auswärtiges Amt: Sri Lanka, travel and safety advice, Sri Lanka Ports Authority, Noonsite: Sri Lanka (as of 2026-10-20)
Harbours by cruising area
Sri Lanka: Galle
Frequently asked questions
Sri Lanka: Do I need to clear in?
The harbour for yachts is Galle on the south coast (also Trincomalee). An agent is compulsory and registers the yacht in advance; call Galle Port Control on VHF channel 16 before entering, the navy inspects the boat. Entry with the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA).
Sri Lanka: Which documents do I need on board?
Passport valid for six months; Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before entry. Ship's papers, insurance, crew list, clearance from the last port.
Sri Lanka: What fees apply?
Fees of the agent and the Sri Lanka Ports Authority by boat size and length of stay, reportedly several hundred US dollars.
Sri Lanka: What is the emergency number at sea?
119 police, 110 rescue; Sri Lanka Navy via VHF channel 16.
Sri Lanka: How many harbours does Sailseer cover?
Sailseer covers 1 harbour with harbour info, weather and route planning.