Newspapers 
Newspapers are available daily and mostly sellout by noon. There are many special Sunday editions. Of the English-language newspapers, the Daily News (www.lanka.netj lakehouse) and the Observer are government-sponsored -the former appearing in the morning, the latter, at noon. Private newspapers include the Island, the Sunday Times (online at: WWW.lacnet.org/suntimes) and the Sunday Leader. Most hotels and reputable book shops carry international magazines such as Newsweek, Asiaweek, Time, The Far Eastern Economic Review, The Economist and some French and German publications. The International Herald Tribune and Asian Wall Street Journal arrive a day late and are available in most leading hotels.

Television
Television has improved with a range of new channels that run to later hours, and up-to-the-minute international news services via Sky News, BBC and CNN. There are seven TV channels, showing English, Sinhalese and Tamil programmes. Some channels broadcast in the morning, as well as transmitting in the evening. Programme listings are available in the newspapers.

Radio
Radio has also expanded over recent years. The government-run SLBC, an English service, now faces stiff competition from other more up-to-date and professionally run operations such as Capital Radio, TNL and Yes FM. These offer DJ music with chart hits, jazz and classical music. Sinhala and Tamil radio shows are also widely transmitted.

Postal Services
These are not particularly reliable. As there are periodic strikes and delays, it is best to register urgent post. The General Post Office, on Janadhipathi Mawatha (Tel: 323140) is open 24 hours a day. There is a counter for receiving mail intended for overseas destinations. Postal rates are extremely cheap in comparison with those overseas. When sending airmail letters with stamps, it is best to make sure that they are "franked" in front of you, to prevent them being steamed off and re-used. All overseas packages should be stqmped with a green customs label stating the contents and value. Post office working hours are 7am-5/6pm weekdays and gam-6pm Saturday. Mail is delivered every day except Sunday and public holidays. The simplest way to mail anything is through your I hotel, but there are reliable internationalcourier services available.

Area Dialling Code

Aluthgama 034	Ambalangoda 09	Anuradhapura 025	Badulla 055	Bandarawela 057
Bentota 034	Beruwela 034	Colombo 01	Dambulla 066	Dehiwela 01
Ella 057	Galle 09	Giritale 027	Habarana 066	Hambantota 047
Haputale 057	Hikkaduwa 09	Jaffna 021	Kalutara 034	Kandy 08
Kataragama 047	Kurunegala 037	Matara 041	Mount Lavinia 01	Negombo 031
Nuwara Eliya 052	Polonaruwa 027	Ratnapura 045	Sigiriya 066	Tangalla 047
Tissamaharama 047	Trincomalee 026	Unawatuna 09	Weligama 041	----