Every city in the world has shops where you can buy the necessities of life, usually for far less than what you would pay in the US. Possessions slow you down and make you paranoid about loosing them or getting them stolen.
Getting laundry done is simple and cheap, so don't bring lots of outfits. (The $100 dress you buy at the GAP was probably manufactured in Sri Lanka where it can be purchased for $5. Really!) Versatility is the key. Every item you pack should be multi-purpose. For example, a lightweight sarong can crumple into a ball that fits in your hand, and yet functions as a sheet, towel, bathrobe, tent, picnic blanket, and tablecloth. (Naturally, you can buy sarongs in Sri Lanka, too.)
While I never heard a fellow traveler lament that they didn't bring enough stuff, I have heard plenty of complaints about not bringing enough money. Visa is accepted nearly everywhere (but not American Express or MasterCard). ATMs are everywhere and accept most of the common types of debit cards (although the fee for a foreign transaction can be high). Bring travelers checks, too. You might find yourself in a situation where you need them. Some places only honor American Express or, even better, Thomas Cooke checks. Other places give slightly better exchange rates for these types of checks. (Tip: before you leave, record the check numbers in a secret place you can access from the Web.)
In the Third World it's always a good idea to have lots traveler's checks in $20 denominations. Getting change is a persistent problem. Also, most countries charge you to leave. Usually the exit tax must be paid in US dollars. One favorite trick of immigration authorities is to return the change in the local currency when the poor tourist hands over a $100 traveler's check. In some cases this currency is only good in the country you are now leaving.
Don't cash all of your traveler's checks at once. Local currencies are often quite volatile. $100 worth of Tanzanian Shillings purchased at 8 AM may only be worth $70 by 9 AM.
Banks give the best exchange rate for currency exchange. Hotels give the worst rate. Bureau de Change rates vary. The black market rates in Sri Lanka aren't worth the risk.
It's hard to spend money in Sri Lanka. The big costs (not covered by the program) are taxis, eating (and drinking) in restaurants, phone calling cards, Internet cafes, donations, and buying gifts. Food in airports is expensive. And then there's the odd emergency. I would estimate $20/day to be (barely) on the safe side, plus a credit card.
Every traveler worries about losing his stuff, but the Buddha teaches us not to become too attached to our possessions. Credit cards can be cancelled (and new ones delivered), new clothes, gadgets, and toiletries can be easily and cheaply replaced. When I travel there are only three items that I guard carefully: my passport, my traveler's checks, and my ticket home. (In fact, these items are also easy to replace.) I carry these with me in a fanny pack when I am in transit. Sure, I look like a nerd, but the fanny pack is easy to access (fumbling for cash attracts pickpockets), easy to hide (just drape your shirt over it), and hard to steal. (Don't call it a fanny pack in Commonwealth countries. "Fanny" means "vagina" in those places.)
After I arrive, I hide my fanny pack in a safe place in my room, preferably a place that locks, although this would be the first place a thief would look. A hotel safe is a good place. Do not carry your passport when you're walking around town unless you're going to the bank to cash a few traveler's checks.
Avoid bringing expensive or hard-to-replace stuff. Asia is awash in knockoffs, so no one will be impressed with your Gucci purse.
There is some nightlife in Colombo, but almost everything closes in Kandy after 9 PM. There are some night clubs on the outskirts of Kandy, but I have never been to them. Outside of Kandy and Colombo, forget about it. TV is mostly Cricket matches and CNN. So what do you do at night? Read books and write in your journal. Interesting books are hard to find and fiercely fought over in the Third World, so bring a good supply.
Keeping a journal is a tradition for those on a great journey. I think of journal writing as a cheap form of therapy. Remember, it doesn't have to be neat, profound, or even sane.
An inexpensive watch with an alarm.
A camera. Digital cameras are nice. Film and developing in Sri Lanka is expensive and not up to US standards.
Battery recharger (for your digital camera)
A laptop? Only if you can't live without one (like me). You will have easy access to computers.
Voltage converter, outlet adapters
A small, light-weight flashlight (carry it with you everywhere, power outages are common)
Note: Outlets dish out 220 volts in Sri Lanka. Most accept three round pins, while others take three square pins.
Note: Many laptops and battery rechargers work with 110 volts and 220 volts.
Note: It's hard to find outlet adapters for grounded plugs in Sri Lanka. You can find these at Fry's.
Normally people think of gifts as something they buy over there to bring back here. A more common tradition, especially in Asia, is the reverse, to bring gifts with you. There are lots of occasions when it's nice to be able to hand out little gifts to the people you meet on the road. But what to bring? Obviously small, lightweight, inexpensive items fit the bill. Beyond that, things get complicated. Although Sri Lanka is, technically, a Third World country, they have almost everything we have here. They get their gadgets from Japan, so they're actually ahead of us in that department. CDs? Clothes? Forget about it. When I lived in Africa I had a Polaroid camera and gave people their pictures, but Sri Lanka is way too sophisticated for that. Things that are American are good. Academic types would probably love key chains and pens with SJSU logos on them. What am I bringing? Wouldn't you like to know!
Sunglasses
Sunscreen
Sunhat
Hand sanitizers (liquid or wipes)
Mosquito repellant (Only DEET-based products work)
Toiletries (dental care, hair care, shaving, cosmetics, medicine, Swiss army
knife, etc.)
Note: You can buy everything in Sri Lanka, but the brands will be different, so if you have a favorite brand of something, bring it.
Note: Don't carry a Swiss-army knife onto a plane; it will be confiscated.
The State Department used to issue suggestions to diplomats who were about to leave for foreign posts. They advised against looking too American, especially while in transit. Avoid baseball hats, expensive running shoes, T-shirts with American logos, etc. (The US embassy in Sri Lanka advises telling strangers you are from Canada, so bring your maple leafs.)
I love to wear jeans. Unfortunately, they don't work in the tropics. They're too hot. T-shirts that cling to your body also don't work. Here are my wardrobe suggestions:
1. 1 pair short pants
2. 2 pair lightweight long pants
3. 1 soft hat with a brim that goes all the way around
4. sandals you can wear all day
5. several lightweight loose-fitting shirts
6. 1 swim suit
7. lightweight multi-purpose sarong
8. sunglasses
Here are some suggestions from my wife, who is an experienced Third World traveler:
In general, when traveling in Asia you want to honor their traditions. A good rule to follow is to dress in an understated, modest way. For example, it's okay to wear shorts and tank tops when you're at a resort or a beach, but in the city this type of outfit might attract unwanted attention.
The less you bring, the better, because you can wash things out. Bring things that are easily washable and that will dry fast. For example cotton, rayon, and linen are good, but avoid silk, which tends to cling when you sweat. Bring a lightweight clothesline, lightweight clothespins, and a little Woolite. Bring colors that don't show dirt.
Wardrobe suggestions:
long lightweight skirt and/or sundress
lightweight pants
tank tops covered by a lightweight shirt with long sleeves
walking shoes, socks
sandals that can be worn all day, that will stay on your foot. It's good if you
can wear them in water.
one-piece swim suit
lightweight sarong (it's better to buy this here)