Phone Numbers in Sri Lanka: A Complete Guide

Quick Reference

• Country: Sri Lanka
• Country Code: +94
• International Prefix: 00
• National Prefix: 0
• Regulatory Body: Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRC)

Overview

This guide offers an in-depth look at the telephone numbering system in Sri Lanka. It details the structure of phone numbers, dialing procedures, and essential information for telecom professionals, developers, and systems administrators. Whether you're setting up telecom systems, developing applications, or need to understand Sri Lanka's numbering scheme, this guide is an invaluable resource.

Number Formats

General Number Structure

Sri Lanka's phone numbers follow the ITU-T E.164 standard, ensuring global compatibility. The typical format is:

• Country Code: +94
• National Significant Number (NSN): 9 digits

The NSN includes area codes for landlines or mobile prefixes, followed by the subscriber number.

Landline Numbers

Landline numbers consist of a 2-digit area code and a 7-digit subscriber number, totaling 10 digits with the national prefix.

Format: 0XX-XXXXXXX

• Area Codes: 2 digits
• Subscriber Number: 7 digits

Examples:

• Colombo: 011-2345678
• Kandy: 081-2345678

Mobile Numbers

Mobile numbers in Sri Lanka also have 10 digits, starting with a mobile prefix indicating the network operator.

Format: 07X-XXXXXXX

• Mobile Prefix: 3 digits (e.g., 071, 072, 075)
• Subscriber Number: 7 digits

Examples:

• Dialog Axiata: 077-1234567
• Mobitel: 071-2345678

Special Numbers

Special numbers include toll-free, premium-rate, and emergency services, usually shorter with specific prefixes.

Format: 1XX or 1XXX

• Emergency Services: 1XX
• Toll-Free: 1XXX

Examples:

• Police Emergency: 119
• Ambulance: 110

Comprehensive Table of Number Formats

Regular Expressions for Number Validation

Landline Numbers

/^0\d{2}-\d{7}$/

Mobile Numbers

/^07[0-9]-\d{7}$/

Special Numbers (Emergency, Toll-Free)

/^1\d{2,3}$/

Dialing Procedures

Domestic Calls

• Landline to Landline: Dial 0 + Area Code + Subscriber Number
  • Example: 011-2345678
• Landline to Mobile: Dial 0 + Mobile Prefix + Subscriber Number
  • Example: 071-2345678
• Mobile to Mobile: Dial 0 + Mobile Prefix + Subscriber Number
  • Example: 077-1234567

International Calls

• Outgoing: Dial 00 + Country Code + National Number
  • Example: Calling the UK from Sri Lanka: 00 44 20 7946 0958
• Incoming: Dial +94 + Local Number (without the leading 0)
  • Example: +94 11 2345678

Number Portability

Sri Lanka supports mobile number portability (MNP), allowing users to keep their numbers when switching providers. This is crucial for customer retention and competitive market practices.

Major Telecom Operators and Number Ranges

Recent or Upcoming Changes to the Numbering Plan

The last major update to Sri Lanka's numbering plan was in 2003, standardizing numbers to 10 digits. No further changes have been announced recently.

Number Allocation and Management

The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRC) oversees the allocation and management of phone numbers, ensuring compliance with ITU-T standards.

Technical Restrictions and Special Cases

Sri Lanka does not have "golden numbers" (premium or vanity numbers). However, telecom operators may block certain numbers to prevent spam, in line with TRC regulations.

Technical Considerations

For Developers and Systems Administrators

• Number Validation: Ensure systems can validate Sri Lankan numbers using the provided regex.
• Internationalization: Support the E.164 format for storing and processing numbers.
• Number Portability: Implement checks for mobile number portability for accurate routing and billing.
• Emergency Numbers: Handle emergency numbers correctly, especially in VoIP and digital communication systems.