Skip to content
AI Dialer

International dialing

How to call Sri Lanka from United States

  • Exit code 011
  • Country code +94
  • Drop the leading 0

Reviewed by Sujan ThapaliyaLast updated

Calling Sri Lanka from United States

Dial 011 (the United States exit code), then 94 (Sri Lanka’s country code), then the local number with its leading 0 removed. So +94 11 234 5678 is dialled as 011 94 11 234 5678. From a mobile you can dial +94 directly instead of 011.
Dialling Sri Lanka from United States: start with 011, the exit code for United States, then 94 for Sri Lanka, then the local number with its leading 0 dropped. The diagram shows those three blocks and the leading-zero rule that catches most people out.
The + shortcut on a mobile replaces the exit code entirely, which is why it works on any SIM in any country.

The dialing sequence

Exit code from United States
011
Sri Lanka country code
+94
Trunk prefix to remove
0
Domestic numbers start with 0; drop it from abroad.
Full sequence
011 + 94 + local number (drop the leading 0)
Time in Sri Lanka
SLST (UTC+5:30, no DST)
United States is on ET (UTC−5/−4).

Step by step

Dialing Sri Lanka from United States

Four steps, and the third one is where almost every failed call goes wrong.

  1. 1

    Dial 011: the exit code for United States

    011 tells the United States network that the call is leaving the country. On a mobile you can press and hold 0 to type a + instead, which works from any country and any SIM; it is the more reliable option when you travel.
  2. 2

    Dial 94: the country code for Sri Lanka

    94 is Sri Lanka's country calling code. It never changes and is the same no matter where you are calling from.
  3. 3

    Drop the leading 0 from the local number

    Numbers written for domestic use in Sri Lanka begin with 0. That digit is a national trunk prefix and is not part of the number. Remove it: +94 11 234 5678 is dialled as 11 234 5678 after the country code.
  4. 4

    Check the local time before you dial

    Sri Lanka is on SLST (UTC+5:30, no DST) and United States is on ET (UTC−5/−4). Work out the overlap before calling; the most common cause of an unanswered international business call is simply the hour.

Worked examples

What the number looks like at each stage

These are format patterns showing digit grouping, not working numbers.

Written in Sri LankaDialed from United States
Landline011 234 5678011 94 11 234 5678
Mobile+94 7X XXX XXXX011 94 71 234 5678
From a mobile (+)n/a+94 71 234 5678

Frequently asked questions

How do I call Sri Lanka from the United States?
Dial 011, then 94, then the local number with its leading 0 removed. For example, +94 11 234 5678 is dialled as 011 94 11 234 5678.
What is the country code for Sri Lanka?
+94. From United States you reach it by dialling 011 first, or by dialling + directly from a mobile.
Do I include the 0 when calling Sri Lanka?
No. The leading 0 is only used inside Sri Lanka. Including it from abroad is the most common reason the call fails to connect.
How do I call a Sri Lanka mobile from United States?
Exactly the same way as a landline: 011 + 94 + the mobile number without its leading 0. A Sri Lanka mobile in international format looks like +94 71 234 5678.
What is the time difference between United States and Sri Lanka?
United States is on ET (UTC−5/−4) and Sri Lanka is on SLST (UTC+5:30, no DST). Because several of these zones observe daylight saving on different dates, check the current offset rather than assuming a fixed gap.
Is it cheaper to call Sri Lanka over the internet?
Usually, yes. Carrier international rates are typically far above VoIP per-minute rates, and calling from an owned local number also means the person you are calling sees a number they can ring back.

Sources

  1. ITU-T Recommendation E.164 — The international public telecommunication numbering plan — International Telecommunication UnionThe international number format, the 15-digit maximum, and how country codes and national numbers compose.
  2. ITU-T International Numbering Resources — International Telecommunication UnionThe assignment of country calling codes and the published national numbering plans they belong to.

Call Sri Lanka without the international bill

Own a number, dial from the browser or your phone, and pay per second at published rates from a prepaid wallet. If you call Sri Lanka often, an owned local number there means people can call you back.

  • Per-second billing
  • No subscription
  • Numbers in 100+ countries
Get early accessSee number pricing