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How To Call Sri Lanka From Australia

Quick Reference Summary

To call Sri Lanka from Australia:

0011 + 94 + Area Code (without the 0) + Local Number

Examples:

  • For Colombo landline: 0011 + 94 + 11 + XXX XXXX
  • For Sri Lankan mobile phone: 0011 + 94 + 7X + XXX XXXX

When it’s 12 PM (noon) in Sydney, it’s 6:30 AM in Sri Lanka (5.5 hours behind).

How to Call a Landline in Sri Lanka

Making a call to a Sri Lankan landline from Australia involves the following steps:

  1. Dial Australia’s international exit code: 0011
  2. Dial Sri Lanka’s country code: 94
  3. Dial the area code (without the leading 0)
  4. Dial the local phone number

For example, if you’re calling a Colombo number written as (011) 234 5678, you would dial 0011 94 11 234 5678 from Australia.

Sri Lankan landline numbers are typically written with a 0 before the area code when used domestically (e.g., 011 234 5678), but when calling from Australia, you must omit this initial 0 and use the area code directly after the country code.

How to Call a Mobile in Sri Lanka

To call a Sri Lankan mobile phone from Australia:

  1. Dial Australia’s international exit code: 0011
  2. Dial Sri Lanka’s country code: 94
  3. Dial the mobile prefix (without the leading 0)
  4. Dial the rest of the mobile number

For example, if the Sri Lankan mobile number is 071 123 4567, you would dial 0011 94 71 123 4567 from Australia.

Sri Lankan mobile numbers start with 07 when dialed within Sri Lanka, but from Australia, you drop the 0 and dial 7 after the country code 94.

Area Codes

Sri Lanka uses a system of geographic area codes for landlines, with mobile networks using their own dedicated prefixes. Here’s a comprehensive list organized by region:

Major Cities and Regions

City/Region Area Code (drop the 0 when calling from Australia)
Colombo 11
Gampaha 33
Kalutara 34
Kandy 81
Matale 66
Nuwara Eliya 52
Galle 91
Matara 41
Hambantota 47
Jaffna 21
Kilinochchi 21
Mannar 23
Vavuniya 24
Mullaitivu 24
Batticaloa 65
Ampara 63
Trincomalee 26
Kurunegala 37
Puttalam 32
Anuradhapura 25
Polonnaruwa 27
Badulla 55
Monaragala 55
Ratnapura 45
Kegalle 35

Regional Area Codes

Western Province

Colombo (11), Gampaha (33), Kalutara (34), Negombo (31)

Central Province

Kandy (81), Matale (66), Nuwara Eliya (52), Dambulla (66)

Southern Province

Galle (91), Matara (41), Hambantota (47), Ambalangoda (91)

Northern Province

Jaffna (21), Kilinochchi (21), Mannar (23), Vavuniya (24), Mullaitivu (24)

Eastern Province

Batticaloa (65), Ampara (63), Trincomalee (26), Kalmunai (67)

North Western Province

Kurunegala (37), Puttalam (32), Chilaw (32), Kuliyapitiya (37)

North Central Province

Anuradhapura (25), Polonnaruwa (27), Kekirawa (25)

Uva Province

Badulla (55), Monaragala (55), Bandarawela (57), Haputale (57)

Sabaragamuwa Province

Ratnapura (45), Kegalle (35), Balangoda (45), Embilipitiya (47)

Mobile Phone Prefixes

Sri Lankan mobile numbers begin with 07 followed by another digit that indicates the network. When calling from Australia, drop the 0 and dial 7 after the country code 94.

Network Prefixes (drop the 0 when calling from Australia)
Dialog 70, 71, 72, 76, 77, 78
Mobitel 71, 72, 73
Airtel 75
Hutch 72, 78
Etisalat 72, 73, 75

Time Zone

Sri Lanka operates on Sri Lanka Standard Time (SLST), which is UTC+5:30. It does not observe daylight saving time. The time difference with Australia depends on which part of Australia you’re in and whether daylight saving time is in effect:

  • Eastern Australia (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane): Sri Lanka is 4.5-5.5 hours behind
  • Central Australia (Adelaide, Darwin): Sri Lanka is 4-5 hours behind
  • Western Australia (Perth): Sri Lanka is 2.5-3.5 hours behind

During Australian daylight saving time (October to April), the time difference is reduced by one hour.

Special Number Considerations

International Direct Dialing (IDD)

Sri Lanka’s international exit code is 00 when calling from Sri Lanka to other countries.

Service Numbers

  • 1919: Emergency services (police, fire, ambulance) in Sri Lanka
  • 119: Police emergency
  • 110: Fire emergency
  • 1990: Ambulance service These cannot be dialed from outside Sri Lanka.

Toll-Free and Special Numbers

  • Numbers starting with 1-800 are toll-free within Sri Lanka and generally cannot be reached from outside the country.

Best Time to Call

Given the modest time difference between Australia and Sri Lanka, finding a suitable time to call is relatively easy:

  • Morning in Australia (8 AM – 12 PM): Early morning to mid-morning in Sri Lanka (3:30 AM – 7:30 AM)
  • Afternoon in Australia (1 PM – 5 PM): Late morning to early afternoon in Sri Lanka (8:30 AM – 12:30 PM)
  • Evening in Australia (6 PM – 10 PM): Afternoon to early evening in Sri Lanka (1:30 PM – 5:30 PM)

For business calls, the Australian afternoon (Sri Lankan late morning to early afternoon) is typically the most convenient time.

Additional Dialing Information

  • Sri Lankan phone numbers typically have 9-10 digits total, including the area code.
  • Landline numbers in major cities like Colombo have an area code plus 7 digits (e.g., 011 XXXXXXX).
  • Mobile numbers have 10 digits, including the prefix (e.g., 07X XXXXXXX).
  • When making calls to remote areas, be aware that connection quality may vary.

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Calling Sri Lanka from Australia can be expensive with standard carriers, but Phone Card Point offers an affordable solution for staying connected with family, friends, or business associates in Sri Lanka.

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Calling to a mobile in Sri Lanka? See our best international calling cards for Sri Lanka here.

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