Visiting Places of Worship

There are four main religions in Sri Lanka; Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam and Christianity. According to 2011 stats 70.2% Buddhists, 12.6% Hindus, 9.5% Muslims, and 7.4% Christians.

Sri Lankans are very sensitive about their religion so visitors should always show appropriate respect when visiting places of worship.

What to wear when visiting places of worship

Tight clothing for either men or women is neither suitable nor sensible (remember the climate). Sri Lankan religious places are very conscious about the dress code. Sri Lankans wear white coloured clothing when visiting a Buddhist temple. The white colour is considered to be the colour of purity.

To visit a religious place, what you wear should cover the body at least to the knees; the shoulders should also be covered.

At places like the Kandy Daladha Maligawa (Temple of the Tooth), Dambulla golden cave temple, etc., there are people who rent/sell sarongs to visitors at the entrance of the temples. If you are wearing an open shoulder top you should cover up, either with a scarf or other item of clothing.

At some Hindu temples namely Nalu Temple in Jaffna, Men are not allowed to wear garments above waist level within the temple, as has been the Hindu custom from ancient days. Women are encouraged to wear clothing which is non-revealing and reaches below knee length.

Feet and Footwear

Most Buddhist and Hindu temples require you to remove your shoes and hat, while Hindu temples might require you to wash your feet at the outer well/tap before you enter.

Leave your shoes with the person appointed by the temple at its entrance. Visitors need to pay for this service, usually Rs25 to Rs50 per person.

Photography

Visitors are allowed to take photos in religious places in Sri Lanka. Photography and videography are free of charge in most temples and churches.

When in doubt talk to the head priest. Some people might try to charge a photography fee; be aware. Look out for instruction boards and demand receipts with the organisation’s name in such cases.

Statues

You should never take photos while standing with your back to statues. If you want to take a photo of yourself with a statue, stand sideways in front of the statue. In some places, the flashlight should be turned off as this could harm the colours of the paintings.

Commercial filming and photography need special permission from the state authorities such as Film Corporation, defence ministry, and ministry of religious affairs.

Holy shrine

Shrines of Islamic and Hindu temples are sometimes closed to non-Hindus.

Turn off mobile phones

Mobile phones must be switched off to prevent disturbing devotees.

Shaking hands with Priests

Do not attempt to shake hands or be photographed with Buddhist monks, Hindu and Muslim priests. With Christian priests, you could shake hands in a western manner.

Don’t touch statues and paintings

It is not allowed to touch the statues and paintings in temples. Some people even tap on the statues to check what material is used to build them. In historical places such as Dambulla golden Cave Temple (1st century BC), the paintings are very fragile.

Smoking and drinking

Smoking, consuming alcohol, or carrying alcohol in any religious place is not allowed. Smoking in public is a punishable offence.

Don’t smell flowers

The flowers in Buddhist and Hindu temples are meant for offerings. The colourful, fragrant flowers may be tempting to sniff. But as a rule, you are not allowed to smell the offerings; it’s considered rude.

Buddha tattoo not permitted

Mistreatment of a Buddha image is an offence and could result in a penalty. Showing a Buddha tattoo on your body is not accepted in Sri Lanka. It is considered disrespectful for the Buddha and also considered as an act of offending Buddhist sensibilities. There have been many instances in the past in which foreigners have been deported from the island due to displaying a Buddha tattoo on their bodies.

If you have a Buddha tattoo, cover it to avoid trouble.

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Last Modified: April 13, 2024