Medical/Dental – The nearest hospital – is about 1.5km north of the house (on the Negombo Road/A3). It’s called Hemas, and is a large building on the left as you head north. It is a private hospital but it well run and efficient as well as being good value for foreigners. You can go there for any medical needs. You’ll have to pay a small fee (~$2) to get an appointment. After your appointment you’ll be told what treatment and medication you’ll need and presented with a bill. Being private, they are very keen to sell you lots of medication. Don’t feel obliged to buy it if you feel it’s unnecessary ;-).
Police – Wattala Police Station is about 2 km north of the house along the Negombo Road, on the left side. Phone +94 112930222.
Trains – The nearest station is Wanawasala, which is about 1.5km. It is walk-able (20mins) but 5mins it takes only by tuk/3-wheeler. During the rush hour, trains to Colombo are frequent though crowded. Outside rush hour (0930hrs – 1500hrs) they are less frequent and less crowded. The timetable is somewhat irregular so to avoid waiting long times, it is best to check the train time before going to the station (there are apps). Trains often are late and/or cancelled. Keep your valuables secure and out of sight. Fellow passengers are friendly and will help you navigate the system. The trains are slow and it takes about 20 mins to get to Colombo Fort Station.
Buses – Most buses go south to Colombo (usually to Colombo Fort or Pettah) and north to Negombo and beyond. The bus stop for Colombo is about 400m from the house on the Negombo Road. The buses are cheap, slow (Colombo traffic), chaotic and crowded during rush hour but perfectly OK, if you’re not in a hurry! Allow up to an hour to get to Colombo Fort. Bus stops are not always obvious but usually there’s a small crowd indicating where the bus will stop. Getting on and off can be exciting!
Taxi – There are no local taxi services we know of, but Kangaroo Cabs based in Colombo, will take you back to the house from Colombo, and may pick you up from the house if they’ve a vehicle in the area. Their cars are good quality, clean, reliable and the drivers are professional. You’ll need to download their app onto your mobile to contact and track them.
Taxi Platforms – Uber is common and if you already have an account, very useful. Sri Lanka also has its own taxi platform, PickMe. We use it, because it accepts cash, you don’t have to give out your cc details and we like supporting local firms. Foe both platforms, the vehicles are OK and they offer a cheap and fairly reliable service. Drivers often work both platforms. You’ll need to download the app onto your mobile to use them.
Tuk/3-Wheeler – these everywhere and you can collect one from the bottom of our lane. Just hail them (relatively discreetly – a simple hand signal is all that’s needed). Make sure BEFORE you get in that they have a working meter (or you have agreed the journey price). They’re great for short trips (<15 mins). If you have to negotiate a journey price, offer about 1/3 off what the driver asks for. Don’t be afraid to refuse the ride. If a couple of drivers refuse your offer then you may need to raise it. For anything longer, Uber/PickMe are better value and more comfortable.