How to call the UK from Sri Lanka
- From mobile
- +44 xx xxxx xxxx
- From landline
- 00 44 xx xxxx xxxx
From $0.05/min in your browser, no plan needed
How to dial the UK from Sri Lanka
How to make a call to the UK from Sri Lanka: dial the exit code, the country code, and the number. Dial a UK 10-digit number without its leading 0: after 44 the 0 drops.
- Fails
- 00 44 0121 xxxxxxx
- Works
- 00 44 121 xxxxxxx
- 00Sri Lanka exit code
- 44Country code of the UK
- xx xxxx xxxxThe number, area code first
- From a mobile: +44 xx xxxx xxxx
Paste or type a number here to see how to dial it from anywhere
Example: +44 20 7946 0018
- Mobile
- +44 20 7946 0018
- Landline
- 00 44 20 7946 0018
Main area codes in the UK
The area code comes right after 44, then the local number
- London00 4420then the local number
- Birmingham00 44121then the local number
- Glasgow00 44141then the local number
- Manchester00 44161then the local number
- Sheffield00 44114then the local number
- Leeds00 44113then the local number
- Edinburgh00 44131then the local number
- Liverpool00 44151then the local number
Before you call the UK
Dial Birmingham and other cities
Birmingham is 00 44 121, then the local number.
- Birmingham00 44 121
- Manchester00 44 161
- Cardiff00 44 29
Calling the UK cell phones
To reach a UK cell phone from Sri Lanka, dial 00 44 and the number without its leading 0.
Calling a UK toll free number
To call a UK toll free number from Sri Lanka, dial 00 44 and the number. A number that does not take calls from abroad fails.
Calling the UK from Sri Lanka without an international plan
Suparelay calls the UK for $0.05/min from your browser, with no plan. Without one, carriers in Sri Lanka charge up to $0.20/min. Airtel and Hutch include no UK calls in any plan, and Mobitel needs the IDD Buddy per Minute add-on.
| Carrier | Per minute |
|---|---|
SuparelayNo plan neededUp to 4× cheaper | $0.05 landline$0.07 mobile |
 | $0.083 + tax |
 | $0.20 + tax |
 | $0.18 + tax$0.17 + tax with access code 100 with plan |
Want to call the UK?
Type the number and call from your browser, with no app and no plan
When to call the UK
The time now in the UK, and the best hours to call. The UK uses daylight saving time, so the time difference to Colombo changes by 1 hour in March and October.
- Time difference
- March to October: 4.5 hours behind Colombo
- October to March: 5.5 hours behind Colombo
- Daylight saving time
- Clocks change twice a year
Why a call to the UK fails
Mobitel postpaid IDD needs a deposit before six months
A Mobitel postpaid customer with less than 6 months on the network pays a refundable deposit of Rs. 2000 for international calls.
Mobitel, IDDSri Lanka blocks VoIP protocols on some connections
TRCSL has all operators block VoIP applications and protocols suspected of bypassing international telecommunications, such as SIP and H.323. The block covers symmetric broadband, leased lines, and international private leased circuits with a bandwidth of 1 Mbps or more. It excludes asymmetric broadband such as ADSL, GPRS, 3G, HSPA, and Wimax. An eligible customer can ask TRCSL to unblock VoIP by applying through the operator.
TRCSL, VOIP UnblockingFrom any country, a call to the UK also fails when
- The 0 is still in the number
- The exit code is wrong for your country
- The number does not take calls from abroad
Questions
How to call the UK from a Sri Lanka cell phone or mobile?
Dial +44, then the number. It works from any mobile in Sri Lanka
Are calls to the UK included in Sri Lanka phone plans?
Not on most plans. No carrier in Sri Lanka that we checked includes the UK in a plan
How much does it cost to call the UK from Sri Lanka?
With no plan, carriers in Sri Lanka charge up to $0.20 a minute. Suparelay charges each started minute, from your browser
Do I need to dial 00 to call the UK?
From a landline, yes: dial 00, then 44. From a mobile, type + instead, and the phone adds the exit code
Can I call the UK on my iPhone?
Yes. In the Phone app, press and hold 0 for +, then dial 44 and the number. Your plan must allow calls to the UK
How to call the UK from Sri Lanka for free, and is a free call to the UK possible?
An app calls for free only when both sides have it. A call to a landline, or to a phone without the app, costs money
How to call the UK from Sri Lanka on WhatsApp?
WhatsApp and FaceTime call for free, but only someone with the same app. To ring a landline or a phone in the UK without the app, use your phone plan, a calling service, or Suparelay
How to call the UK landline from Sri Lanka?
From a landline in Sri Lanka, dial 00 44, then the number
How do I call the UK from Sri Lanka, and what do I dial for an international call to the UK?
Dial 00 44, then the number. From a mobile, +44 works too
When is the best time to call the UK?
Call between 8:00 and 22:00 in the UK. March to October: 4.5 hours behind Colombo. October to March: 5.5 hours behind Colombo
Why isn't my call going through to the UK?
The usual causes: the 0 is still in the number, the exit code is wrong for your country, and the number does not take calls from abroad. Each one is listed above, with a link to its fix