Shopping in Sri Lanka: 10 Markets, Malls & Craft Stops
Sri Lanka's shopping ranges from chaotic bazaars to polished malls, with world-famous exports — Ceylon tea, blue sapphires, spices, batik and handloom textiles — sold a short walk apart in Colombo. Haggle for produce and fabric in Pettah's crowded lanes, browse designer boutiques inside Galle Fort's Dutch-era streets, and buy gems only from certified dealers in Ratnapura or established Colombo jewellers. Most shops open daily; malls run roughly 10am to 10pm.
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01
Pettah Market (Colombo)
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02
Galle Fort
A UNESCO World Heritage fortified old town of Dutch ramparts, churches and cobbled lanes jutting into the Indian Ocean.
Galle · Free entry · UNESCO
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03
One Galle Face Mall (Colombo)
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04
Barefoot (Colombo)
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05
Laksala (Government Handicraft Emporium)
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06
Odel (Colombo)
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07
Ratnapura Gem Museum
A museum in the City of Gems displaying precious and semi-precious stones alongside the tools and story of Sri Lanka's gem trade.
Ratnapura · LKR 500
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08
Matale Spice Gardens
Roadside herbal and spice gardens where guides walk you through cinnamon, cardamom, pepper, nutmeg and Ayurvedic plants.
Matale · Free entry
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09
Ambalangoda Mask Workshops
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10
Kandy Central Market
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