Overview
Sri Lanka, once called "Serendip" and the root of our happy word "serendipity", is a magical place: ancient artwork and architecture, temples and palaces, tea plantations and highland golf courses, wildlife sanctuaries and elephant orphanages, all wrapped in a rich and vibrant culture and a deep pride in the island's history.
What Sri Lanka lacks in modern boating sophistication it makes up for with the warmth of the welcome. The cruising rules are strict and simple: it is forbidden for yachts to anchor anywhere except a port of entry, which means Galle or Colombo, and that is it.
Timing follows the monsoon. The west coast, including Colombo and Galle, is best from December to March; the east coast, around Trincomalee, opens up from April to September. A new marina at Colombo Port City is in development, signalling the island's growing ambitions for visiting yachts.
Ports & Map
Map Key - Marinas & Moorings
- Colombo Port City Marina (in development)
- Galle Port Mini-Marina (port of entry)
- Trincomalee Harbour Moorings
✈ Bandaranaike International Airport
Yachts may anchor only at a port of entry: Galle or Colombo.
Getting There & Clearance
Clearance
Clearance is handled by the Department of Immigration and Emigration and Sri Lanka Customs. The only ports of entry are Galle (VHF 16) and Colombo (VHF 16). Anchoring outside a port of entry is prohibited, so a local agent is essential.
Government Contacts
Immigration: immigration.gov.lk
Customs: customs.gov.lk
International Airports
Bandaranaike International (Colombo) · Mattala Rajapaksa International · Ratmalana.
Key Anchorages
Galle Harbour · Colombo · Trincomalee (east coast, Apr–Sep).
Local Services
Agents
Asia Pacific Superyachts Sri Lanka
Charter
Sail Lanka · Sea Leisure Yachting Group
Marine Supplies
Lanka Marine Services
Shipyards
Colombo Dockyard
Yacht Management
Asia Pacific Superyachts · SLYG
Cruising
Galle · Colombo · Trincomalee
APSA Grand Tour: Sri Lanka
Prasanna Withanage leads APSA's Grand Tour of Sri Lanka, from the historic harbour at Galle to the temples, tea country and wildlife that make the island so much more than a passage stop.
APSA Members in Sri Lanka
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can superyachts clear in to Sri Lanka?
Galle and Colombo are the only ports of entry, both monitored on VHF 16. It is forbidden for yachts to anchor anywhere except a port of entry, so a local agent is essential.
When is the best time to cruise Sri Lanka?
It follows the monsoon. The west coast, including Colombo and Galle, is best from December to March, while the east coast around Trincomalee opens up from April to September.
Where can superyachts berth in Sri Lanka?
Options are limited but growing. There is a mini-marina at Galle Port, moorings at Trincomalee Harbour, and a full marina under development at Colombo Port City.
What is there to see in Sri Lanka?
Beyond the harbours lie ancient temples and palaces, tea plantations and highland golf, wildlife sanctuaries and elephant orphanages, and a culture famous for its warm welcome.
Which APSA members are based in Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka's APSA member is Sea Leisure Yachting Group (SLYG), a chartering and boat-building company at Koggala, with Asia Pacific Superyachts Sri Lanka acting as the local superyacht agent.