World Telephone Numbering Guide

Updated 22 December 2004

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Sri Lanka

+94

Number Format

Area Code:            1-2 digits
Subscriber Number:    4-6 digits
Trunk Prefix:         0
International Prefix: 00

Area code information

DCCL

1 June 2003 - 8 November 2003: expansion to national 10-digit numbering

As mandated by Telecommunications Regulatory Commission, Sri Lanka began conversion 1 June 2003 to a national 10-digit numbering plan (area code plus subscriber number totals 10 digits, including trunk prefix '0').

Generally '2' is prepended to existing 6-digit fixed subscriber numbers, and '22' is prepended to existing 5-digit fixed subscriber numbers. New subscriber numbers are standardised at 7 digits, with geographic area codes standardised at 2 digits. When the trunk prefix is included, there would be a consistent total of 10 digits for Sri Lanka telephone numbers.

Non-geographic codes are migrated to the new format as indicated in the sections below.

Nationwide standard short codes for emergency services will also be implemented, with timings to be determined:

Ambulance / Regional 110
Fire / Regional      111
Emergency / Regional 112
Emergency / Central  119

Uniform 4-digit short codes will be standardised for all operators to access services such as complaints, directory inquiries, fault reports.

The changes were scheduled as a 10-phase programme, beginning 1 June 2003 and continuing with scheduled changes until 8 November 2003.

See this document from regulator TRC (posted via ITU) for number change schedule phasing.

Also see TRC-SL press page, with Media Release (.pdf format).

Subscriber numbers in Jaffna Area (+94 21) already changed to the 10-digit format in September 2002.

Phase 1: 1 June 2003 - Ja-Ela, Katunayake, Mannar, Panadura

The initial numbering changes occurred in selected places as follows:

Place                  Old numbering  New numbering
=====                  =============  =============
Ja-Ela and Katunayake  +94 1 2xxxxx   +94 1 22xxxxx
Mannar                 +94 23 xxxxx   +94 23 22xxxxx
Panadura               +94 38 xxxxx   +94 38 22xxxxx

Only the Ja-Ela and Katunayake exchanges of Colombo district will change, where subscriber numbers begin with '2'. Other Colombo numbers change 16 August 2003 (Phase 4).

Reference: Sri Lanka Telecom - News.

Phase 2: 28 June 2003 - various locations

'2' or '22' was prepended to subscriber numbers beginning with '2' in the following areas on 28 June 2003:

Place       Old numbering  New numbering
=====       =============  =============
Galle       +94 9  2xxxx   +94 9  222xxxx
Gampaha     +94 33 2xxxx   +94 33 222xxxx
Hambantota  +94 47 2xxxx   +94 47 222xxxx
Kalutara    +94 34 2xxxx   +94 34 222xxxx
Kandy       +94 8  2xxxxx  +94 8  22xxxxx
Kurunegala  +94 37 2xxxxx  +94 37 222xxxx
Ratnapura   +94 45 2xxxx   +94 45 222xxxx

Subscriber numbers in these area codes that did not begin with '2' will be changed on 13 September 2003 (Phase 6) except for Horana exchange numbers in +94 34 which will be changed 16 August 2003 (Phase 4).

Reference: Sri Lanka Telecom - News.

Phase 3: 9 August 2003 - Trincomalee

'22' was prepended to all Trincomalee (+94 26) subscriber numbers on 9 August 2003. That is, +94 26 xxxxx became +94 26 22xxxxx.

Reference: Sri Lanka Telecom - News.

Phase 4: 16 August 2003 - Colombo Metro and Horana

On 16 August 2003, '2' was prepended to all remaining Colombo area (+94 1) subscriber numbers that were not changed on Phase 1 on 1 June 2003.

That is, +94 1 xxxxxx became +94 1 2xxxxxx, provided the first digit of the old 6-digit subscriber number was not '2', due to the earlier Phase 1 conversion in Ja-Ela and Katunayake. Subscriber numbers in Colombo do not begin with digits '0' or '1'.

Also on 16 August 2003, '22' was prepended to Horana exchange subscriber numbers in the Kalutara area (+94 34). The old +94 34 2xxxx numbers were already converted in Phase 2 of 28 June 2003. Remaining exchanges in +94 34 will be converted 13 September 2003 (Phase 6).

Horana exchange ranges changed in this phase:

Old numbering  New numbering
=============  =============
+94 34 50xxx   +94 34 2250xxx
+94 34 51xxx   +94 34 2251xxx
+94 34 52xxx   +94 34 2252xxx
+94 34 54xxx   +94 34 2254xxx
+94 34 56xxx   +94 34 2256xxx
+94 34 57xxx   +94 34 2257xxx
+94 34 6xxxx   +94 34 226xxxx

Reference: Sri Lanka Telecom - News.

Phase 5: 30 August 2003 - various locations

On 30 August 2003, '22' was prepended to all subscriber numbers in the following communities:

Place         Old numbering  New numbering
=====         =============  =============
Ampara        +94 63 xxxxx   +94 63 22xxxxx
Anuradhapura  +94 25 xxxxx   +94 25 22xxxxx
Awissawella   +94 36 xxxxx   +94 36 22xxxxx
Badulla       +94 55 xxxxx   +94 55 22xxxxx
Bandarawela   +94 57 xxxxx   +94 57 22xxxxx
Batticaloa    +94 65 xxxxx   +94 65 22xxxxx
Chilaw        +94 32 xxxxx   +94 32 22xxxxx
Hatton        +94 51 xxxxx   +94 51 22xxxxx
Kalmunai      +94 67 xxxxx   +94 67 22xxxxx
Kegalle       +94 35 xxxxx   +94 35 22xxxxx
Matale        +94 66 xxxxx   +94 66 22xxxxx
Nawalapitiya  +94 54 xxxxx   +94 54 22xxxxx
Negombo       +94 31 xxxxx   +94 31 22xxxxx
Nuwara Eliya  +94 52 xxxxx   +94 52 22xxxxx
Polonnaruwa   +94 27 xxxxx   +94 27 22xxxxx
Vavuniya      +94 24 xxxxx   +94 24 22xxxxx

Reference: Sri Lanka Telecom - News.

Phase 6: 13 September 2003 - various locations

On 13 September 2003, '22' was prepended to all subscriber numbers in the following communities (except Kandy, where '2' was prepended to 6-digit subscriber numbers there):

Place         Old numbering  New numbering
=====         =============  =============
Galle         +94 9  xxxxx   +94 9  22xxxxx
Gampaha       +94 33 xxxxx   +94 33 22xxxxx
Hambantota    +94 47 xxxxx   +94 47 22xxxxx
Kurunegala    +94 37 xxxxx   +94 37 22xxxxx
Ratnapura     +94 45 xxxxx   +94 45 22xxxxx
Kalutara      +94 34 3xxxx   +94 34 223xxxx
Kalutara      +94 34 4xxxx   +94 34 224xxxx
Kalutara      +94 34 55xxx   +94 34 2255xxx
Kalutara      +94 34 58xxx   +94 34 2258xxx
Kalutara      +94 34 7xxxx   +94 34 227xxxx
Kalutara      +94 34 8xxxx   +94 34 228xxxx
Kalutara      +94 34 9xxxx   +94 34 229xxxx
Kandy         +94 8  xxxxxx  +94 8  2xxxxxx

Phase 7: 4 October 2003 - Matara and national non-geographic network

'22' is prepended to existing 5-digit subscriber numbers in Matara (+94 41) on 4 October 2003, to form new numbering of format +94 41 22xxxxx.

Also on this date, the national non-geographic overlay network changes area code from +94 70 to +94 60. '2' is also prepended to existing 6-digit subscriber numbers. That is, +94 70 xxxxxx becomes +94 60 2xxxxxx.

Phase 8: 18 October 2003 - new area codes in Colombo, Galle, Kandy

'1' will be appended to area codes in these localities:

Place   Old code  New code
=====   ========  ========
Colombo  +94 1     +94 11
Galle    +94 9     +94 91
Kandy    +94 8     +94 81

Other area codes in Sri Lanka are not affected by the national renumbering. This phase will standardise the length of area codes in Sri Lanka to 2 digits exclusive of trunk prefix.

Phase 9: 1 November 2003 - private network changes

Sri Lankan Airlines private network numbering changes from +94 73 xxxx to +94 1973 3xxxx. That is, '19' is prepended to the area code portion, and '3' is prepended to the 4-digit subscriber number portion. This is a special case numbering.

Phase 10: 8 November 2003 - WLL area code and subscriber number changes

In this final phase of changes for the 2003 national renumbering, Wireless Local Loop (WLL) numbers change from non-geographic to geographic area codes.

Migration is based on which WLL carrier operates service:

1) Suntel existing non-geographic area code is +94 74. The digit '4' will be prepended to the subscriber number, and the area code changed to the geographic region in which the number is located.

2) Lanka Bell existing non-geographic area code is +94 75. The digit '5' will be prepended to the subscriber number, and the area code changed to the geographic region in which the number is located.

For example a Suntel WLL customer in Negombo changes from +94 74 87xxxx to +94 31 487xxxx. A Lanka Tel WLL customer in the same centre changes from +94 75 31xxxx to +94 31 531xxxx. The non-geographic codes +94 74 and +94 75 would be decommissioned once the geographic format numbers are established. There is no indication of permissive dialling of old and new formats for WLL numbers.

The following indicates WLL migration by order of number range:

Carrier: Suntel
===============

Old WLL number  New WLL number  Place
==============  ==============  =====
+94 74 20xxxx   +94 11 420xxxx  Colombo
+94 74 21xxxx   +94 11 421xxxx  Colombo
+94 74 22xxxx   +94 11 422xxxx  Colombo
+94 74 23xxxx   +94 11 423xxxx  Colombo
+94 74 24xxxx   +94 11 424xxxx  Colombo
+94 74 25xxxx   +94 11 425xxxx  Colombo
+94 74 26xxxx   +94 11 426xxxx  Colombo
+94 74 27xxxx   +94 36 427xxxx  Avissawella
+94 74 28xxxx   +94 34 428xxxx  Kalutara
+94 74 29xxxx   +94 38 429xxxx  Panadura
+94 74 30xxxx   +94 11 430xxxx  Colombo
+94 74 31xxxx   +94 11 431xxxx  Colombo
+94 74 32xxxx   +94 11 432xxxx  Colombo
+94 74 33xxxx   +94 11 433xxxx  Colombo
+94 74 34xxxx   +94 11 434xxxx  Colombo
+94 74 35xxxx   +94 11 435xxxx  Colombo
+94 74 36xxxx   +94 45 436xxxx  Ratnapura
+94 74 37xxxx   +94 47 437xxxx  Hambantota
+94 74 38xxxx   +94 91 438xxxx  Galle
+94 74 39xxxx   +94 41 439xxxx  Matara
+94 74 40xxxx   +94 11 440xxxx  Colombo
+94 74 41xxxx   +94 11 441xxxx  Colombo
+94 74 42xxxx   +94 11 442xxxx  Colombo
+94 74 43xxxx   +94 11 443xxxx  Colombo
+94 74 44xxxx   +94 11 444xxxx  Colombo
+94 74 45xxxx   +94 51 445xxxx  Hatton (except 459xxx series)
+94 74 459xxx   +94 54 4459xxx  Nawalapitiyta
+94 74 46xxxx   +94 66 446xxxx  Matale
+94 74 47xxxx   +94 81 447xxxx  Kandy
+94 74 48xxxx   +94 81 448xxxx  Kandy
+94 74 490xxx   +94 52 449xxxx  Nuwara Eliya
+94 74 496xxx   +94 57 4496xxx  Bandarawela
+94 74 499xxx   +94 55 4499xxx  Badulla
+94 74 50xxxx   +94 11 450xxxx  Colombo
+94 74 51xxxx   +94 11 451xxxx  Colombo
+94 74 52xxxx   +94 11 452xxxx  Colombo
+94 74 53xxxx   +94 11 453xxxx  Colombo
+94 74 54xxxx   +94 11 454xxxx  Colombo
+94 74 55xxxx   +94 11 455xxxx  Colombo
+94 74 56xxxx   +94 11 456xxxx  Colombo
+94 74 57xxxx   +94 11 457xxxx  Colombo
+94 74 580xxx   +94 25 4580xxx  Anuradhapura
+94 74 581xxx   +94 25 4581xxx  Anuradhapura
+94 74 589xxx   +94 24 4589xxx  Vavuniya
+94 74 590xxx   +94 21 4590xxx  Jaffna
+94 74 591xxx   +94 21 4591xxx  Jaffna
+94 74 592xxx   +94 21 4592xxx  Jaffna
+94 74 593xxx   +94 21 4593xxx  Jaffna
+94 74 594xxx   +94 21 4594xxx  Jaffna
+94 74 595xxx   +94 26 4595xxx  Trincomalee
+94 74 596xxx   +94 26 4596xxx  Trincomalee
+94 74 597xxx   +94 26 4597xxx  Trincomalee
+94 74 598xxx   +94 23 4598xxx  Mannar
+94 74 599xxx   +94 27 4599xxx  Polonnaruwa
+94 74 60xxxx   +94 11 460xxxx  Colombo
+94 74 61xxxx   +94 11 461xxxx  Colombo
+94 74 62xxxx   +94 11 462xxxx  Colombo
+94 74 63xxxx   +94 11 463xxxx  Colombo
+94 74 64xxxx   +94 11 464xxxx  Colombo
+94 74 65xxxx   +94 11 465xxxx  Colombo
+94 74 66xxxx   +94 11 466xxxx  Colombo
+94 74 67xxxx   +94 33 467xxxx  Gampaha
+94 74 68xxxx   +94 35 468xxxx  Kegalle
+94 74 69xxxx   +94 37 469xxxx  Kurunegala
+94 74 7xxxxx   +94 11 47xxxxx  Colombo
+94 74 80xxxx   +94 11 480xxxx  Colombo
+94 74 81xxxx   +94 11 481xxxx  Colombo
+94 74 82xxxx   +94 11 482xxxx  Colombo
+94 74 83xxxx   +94 11 483xxxx  Colombo
+94 74 84xxxx   +94 11 484xxxx  Colombo
+94 74 85xxxx   +94 11 485xxxx  Colombo
+94 74 86xxxx   +94 32 486xxxx  Chilaw
+94 74 87xxxx   +94 31 487xxxx  Negombo
+94 74 88xxxx   +94 65 488xxxx  Batticaloa
+94 74 89xxxx   +94 63 489xxxx  Ampara
+94 74 89xxxx   +94 67 489xxxx  Kalmunai
+94 74 90xxxx   +94 11 490xxxx  Colombo
+94 74 91xxxx   +94 11 491xxxx  Colombo
+94 74 92xxxx   +94 11 492xxxx  Colombo
+94 74 93xxxx   +94 11 493xxxx  Colombo
+94 74 94xxxx   +94 11 494xxxx  Colombo
+94 74 95xxxx   +94 11 495xxxx  Colombo
+94 74 96xxxx   +94 11 496xxxx  Colombo

Carrier: Lanka Bell
===================

Old WLL number  New WLL number  Place
==============  ==============  =====
+94 75 22xxxx   +94 33 522xxxx  Gampaha
+94 75 23xxxx   +94 36 523xxxx  Avissawella
+94 75 24xxxx   +94 35 524xxxx  Kegalle
+94 75 26xxxx   +94 37 526xxxx  Kurunegala
+94 75 29xxxx   +94 32 529xxxx  Chilaw
+94 75 30xxxx   +94 11 530xxxx  Colombo
+94 75 31xxxx   +94 31 531xxxx  Negombo
+94 75 32xxxx   +94 11 532xxxx  Colombo
+94 75 33xxxx   +94 11 533xxxx  Colombo
+94 75 34xxxx   +94 11 534xxxx  Colombo
+94 75 35xxxx   +94 11 535xxxx  Colombo
+94 75 36xxxx   +94 11 536xxxx  Colombo
+94 75 37xxxx   +94 11 537xxxx  Colombo
+94 75 41xxxx   +94 41 541xxxx  Matara
+94 75 44xxxx   +94 45 544xxxx  Ratnapura
+94 75 45xxxx   +94 91 545xxxx  Galle
+94 75 48xxxx   +94 47 548xxxx  Hambantota
+94 75 50xxxx   +94 11 550xxxx  Colombo
+94 75 51xxxx   +94 11 551xxxx  Colombo
+94 75 52xxxx   +94 11 552xxxx  Colombo
+94 75 53xxxx   +94 11 553xxxx  Colombo
+94 75 54xxxx   +94 11 554xxxx  Colombo
+94 75 55xxxx   +94 11 555xxxx  Colombo
+94 75 56xxxx   +94 11 556xxxx  Colombo
+94 75 57xxxx   +94 11 557xxxx  Colombo
+94 75 58xxxx   +94 34 558xxxx  Kalutara
+94 75 59xxxx   +94 38 559xxxx  Panadura
+94 75 70xxxx   +94 51 570xxxx  Hatton
+94 75 71xxxx   +94 54 571xxxx  Nawalapitiyta
+94 75 72xxxx   +94 52 572xxxx  Nuwara Eliya
+94 75 73xxxx   +94 57 573xxxx  Bandarawela
+94 75 74xxxx   +94 81 574xxxx  Kandy
+94 75 76xxxx   +94 55 576xxxx  Badulla
+94 75 77xxxx   +94 66 577xxxx  Matale
+94 75 78xxxx   +94 63 578xxxx  Ampara
+94 75 78xxxx   +94 67 578xxxx  Kalmunai
+94 75 79xxxx   +94 65 579xxxx  Batticaloa
+94 75 81xxxx   +94 25 581xxxx  Anuradhapura
+94 75 83xxxx   +94 23 583xxxx  Mannar
+94 75 84xxxx   +94 24 584xxxx  Vavuniya
+94 75 85xxxx   +94 21 585xxxx  Jaffna
+94 75 86xxxx   +94 26 586xxxx  Trincomalee
+94 75 87xxxx   +94 27 587xxxx  Polonnaruwa

Cellular mobile changes

MTN Networks (Dialog) (+94 77) already had '7' prepended to existing 6-digit subscriber numbers to form 7-digit numbers in 2002.

31 May 2003: '2' prepended to existing 6-digit Celltel numbers (+94 72)

7 June 2003: '2' prepended to existing 6-digit Mobitel numbers (+94 71)

1 August 2003 (tentative): Lanka Cellular Services/Hutchison (+94 78) expands from 6- to 7-digit numbers. It was unclear whether '2' was to be prepended to existing Lanka Cellular 6-digit subscriber numbers.

(some news tips, updates courtesy Ken Westmoreland)

1999-2000 - preliminary national renumbering plans

Sri Lanka's Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) has informed WTNG in August 1999 that Sri Lanka's numbering plan will be converted to an 8-digit "closed" numbering plan within the next three years. No further details from TRC were available at that time.

However, there was disagreement to a new TRC numbering plan from Sri Lanka Telecom, which wants to wait until it can re-balance its tariffs. There was a suggestion that the new numbering plan conversion could begin in 2001. Source: "Regulator in numbers crunch" in Sunday Times.

April-July 1996 - various local changes

Around 19 April 1996:

The area code for Panadura changed from +94 1 to +94 34 around 19 April 1996. Existing 6-digit subscriber numbers were converted to 5-digit format to fit into the new area code.
New numbers in Bandaragama are of the format +94 34 90xxx or +94 34 91xxx.
In Kandy, some 5-digit subscriber numbers in its area code +94 8 were extended to 6-digit format by prepending digit '2'.
In Piliyandala (Colombo area, +94 1), subscriber numbers in the 504xxx range were changed to 614xxx.

Around 29 June 1996:

Some subscriber numbers in Ja-Ela (Colombo area, +94 1 area code) changed. Existing numbers 536xxx and 537xxx were changed to 236xxx and 237xxx respectively. 231xxx and 232xxx number ranges also entered into service.
Hikkaduwa subscriber numbers (under area code +94 9) changed from 57xxx to 77xxx. The area code did not change.

13 July 1996, in Hatton, area code changed from +94 512 to +94 51; '22' was prepended to the existing 3-digit subscriber numbers to form new 5-digit subscriber numbers.

Reference: http://home.vicnet.net.au/~slanka/telch.html, unofficial report from Australian source

Other information

Regulator is Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC)

Carrier is Sri Lanka Telecom

Another carrier is Lanka Bell.

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