Religion & Temples

1. විහාරයට ඇතුළු වීමට කලින් පාවහන් ගළවන්න

   Wi-hā-ra-ya-ta æ-thu-lu wī-ma-ta ka-lin pā-wa-han ga-la-wan-na

   Please remove your shoes before entering the temple

   Usage

   Used to inform visitors about the etiquette of removing shoes before entering a Buddhist temple

   Grammar Note

   Shoes and often hats must be removed at Sri Lankan Buddhist temples. "Galawanna" is the imperative of "to remove."

2. පොහොය දවස් සුදු ඇඳුමෙන් ද?

   Po-ho-ya da-was su-du æn-du-men da?

   Should I wear white clothing on Poya (full moon) days?

   Usage

   Used to ask about the dress code for Poya (full moon holy days) in Sri Lanka

   Grammar Note

   Poya is a monthly public holiday in Sri Lanka. White clothing is customary for temple visits. Alcohol sales are banned.

3. බුද්ධ ප්‍රතිමාව ඡායාරූප ගත කළ හැකිද?

   Bud-dha pra-thi-mā-wa chā-ya-rū-pa ga-tha ka-la hæ-ki-da?

   Can I take a photo of the Buddha statue?

   Usage

   Used to seek permission before photographing a Buddha statue at a temple

   Grammar Note

   Posing with back to a Buddha statue or taking selfies with it is deeply disrespectful and can lead to arrest in Sri Lanka.

4. වෙසක් පොළ කොහෙද?

   We-sak po-la ko-he-da?

   Where is the Vesak festival taking place?

   Usage

   Used to ask about Vesak festival locations, held on the full moon of May each year

   Grammar Note

   Vesak fills streets with colourful lanterns (oluindalu) and free food stalls (dansalas). Sri Lanka's biggest religious festival.

5. දළදා මාළිගාවේ ප්‍රවේශ ගාස්තු කීයද?

   Da-la-dā mā-li-gā-wē pra-vē-sha gās-thu kī-ya-da?

   How much is the entry fee for the Temple of the Tooth Relic?

   Usage

   Used to ask about the entry fee for the iconic Dalada Maligawa Temple in Kandy

   Grammar Note

   Dalada Maligawa charges foreign visitors. Locals pay less or free. White clothing is preferred but not strictly enforced.

6. කෝවිල ළඟ ශිරෝවේෂය ඕනෑ ද?

   Kō-wi-la la-ṅa shi-rō-wē-sha-ya ō-nǣ da?

   Do I need to cover my head at the Hindu kovil?

   Usage

   Used to ask about dress code at Sri Lanka's Tamil Hindu kovils (temples)

   Grammar Note

   Shoes must be removed at Hindu kovils. Women should cover shoulders and knees. Head covering requirements vary by temple.

7. මහනුවර ඇසළ පෙරහැර කවදාද?

   Ma-ha-nu-wa-ra Æ-sa-ḷa pe-ra-hæ-ra ka-va-dā-da?

   When is the Kandy Perahera festival?

   Usage

   Used to ask about the dates of the Kandy Esala Perahera, a grand Buddhist procession festival

   Grammar Note

   Kandy Esala Perahera is a 10-day grand procession in July-August featuring elephants, drummers, and dancers. Book ahead.

8. මෙතන තොප්පිය ඉවත් කරන්නකො

   Me-ta-na top-pi-ya i-wat ka-ran-na-ko

   Please take off your hat here

   Usage

   Used to politely ask someone to remove their hat at a religious site

   Grammar Note

   "Iwat kirima" means removal. "-ko" is a soft colloquial imperative. Some temples ban leather items or hats entirely.

9. ජාමේ නමාස් කීමට ස්ථානයක් ඇතිද?

   Jā-mē na-māz kī-ma-ta sthā-na-yak æ-thi-da?

   Is there a place to pray at the mosque (Jama Masjid)?

   Usage

   Used when visiting Sri Lankan mosques to ask about prayer facilities

   Grammar Note

   About 10% of Sri Lankans are Muslim (Moors). Mosques are found nationwide. Islamic prayers (salah) are observed 5 times daily.

10. ශ්‍රී පාද සඳකඩ පහණ ළඟ නතර නොවෙන්නකො

    Shrī pā-da san-da-kaḍ pa-ha-ṇa la-ṅa na-tha-ra no-wen-na-ko

    Please don't stop near the moonstone at Sri Pada (Adam's Peak)

    Usage

    Used to guide visitors to avoid standing on the sacred moonstone at Sri Pada pilgrimage site

    Grammar Note

    Moonstones (Sandakada Pahana) are sacred carved semicircular stones at Buddhist temple entrances. Never step on or sit on them.

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