DriftAsia Reference

Sri Lanka
mobile operators

Which operators power our eSIM plans for Sri Lanka, the local network to lean on, and what a tourist SIM costs on the ground.

The DriftAsia eSIM plans for Sri Lanka shown on this page use Mobitel, Hutch, Dialog and offer 4G/5G depending on the plan. Check each plan for its exact network, data allowance, validity and price before choosing. Available plans are fully refundable within 30 days as long as the eSIM has not been used on a network at the destination.

Main operatorMobitel
Local SIM$4-8
Operators in our plans3

Dialog widest; hill country and east coast can drop.

48 MSI76 NQI

Plan share by operator

Share of the eSIM plans we sell for Sri Lanka, by underlying operator.

Mobitel: 48% (53 plans) Hutch: 30% (33 plans) Dialog: 22% (24 plans) 3 OPERATORS
  • Mobitel48%
  • Hutch30%
  • Dialog22%

Network at a glance

Mobitel is the network most travellers lean on in Sri Lanka. 5G is live on at least one operator we carry, so newer phones can reach top speeds in covered areas. On our Mobile Speed Index it scores 48, placing it on the slower side regionally. Median data price has risen from $0.75 per GB in April 2026 to $1.79 in August 2026.

The operators behind our plans

Each network we carry in Sri Lanka, with who runs it and what generation it reaches.

Mobitel#2
Owner
Sri Lanka Telecom PLC
Network
5G/4G
5G
5G since 2019
Plans we carry
53
Hutch#3
Owner
CK Hutchison Holdings
Network
4G
Plans we carry
33
Dialog#1
Owner
Axiata Group Berhad
Network
4G
5G
5G since 2020
Plans we carry
24

Common questions

Which operator is best in Sri Lanka?

Mobitel offers the widest reach for most travellers. Dialog widest; hill country and east coast can drop. Our eSIM plans run on the strongest available network, so you do not have to choose a SIM at the counter.

Does Sri Lanka have 5G?

Yes. At least one operator we carry runs 5G, available mainly in larger cities and along major corridors. Older devices fall back to 4G automatically.

How much is a local SIM in Sri Lanka?

A tourist SIM bought on arrival typically runs $4-8. An eSIM skips the queue and the passport scan, and activates by QR code before you land.

How many operators power Sri Lanka eSIM plans?

We carry plans across 3 operators in Sri Lanka. The donut above shows how our catalogue splits between them.

How we read this

Plan share counts how many of the eSIM plans we sell for Sri Lanka run on each operator. It reflects catalogue depth, not subscriber market share. The top operator is the network we would hand a traveller who can pick only one.