Etiquette

Etiquette in Sri Lanka: Temples, Dress, Photography & Poya

Cultural etiquette every visitor should know, temple dress and behaviour, photography sensitivities, and what changes on Poya days. Cover shoulders and knees, remove shoes and hats before entering, and remove footwear well before the threshold at major sites (Sigiriya, Dambulla, Kandy's Temple of the Tooth). Loud talk, swimwear and public displays of affection are inappropriate at religious sites.

travelguides.lk · updated Jun 2026 Sourced editorial

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Temples & sacred sites
Photography
General etiquette
Poya days

Temples & sacred sites

Cover shoulders and knees, remove shoes and hats before entering, and remove footwear well before the threshold at major sites (Sigiriya, Dambulla, Kandy's Temple of the Tooth). Loud talk, swimwear and public displays of affection are inappropriate at religious sites.

Never turn your back to a Buddha statue for a photo (posing with your back to, or "selfies" that treat the statue as a backdrop, are considered deeply disrespectful, and have led to arrests of tourists in the past).

Photography

Ask before photographing people, especially in rural areas and at religious ceremonies. Some sites restrict drone or tripod use, see the Legal & Entry page for drone rules.

General etiquette

Use your right hand (or both) to give/receive items and to eat if eating by hand. Remove shoes before entering homes. A head-wobble ("yes/ok" gesture) is common and friendly, not a no.

Poya days

On full-moon Poya days (public holidays, roughly monthly), alcohol and meat sales are restricted islandwide, and some bars/liquor stores close. Temples get busy with pilgrims; plan around it rather than being caught out, see the Festivals & Seasons page for the calendar.