Sri Lanka best Sinhala pronunciation Google Translate guide?

Real learning: 20-30 minutes daily practice with tutor for 4-6 weeks pre-trip = basic conversational level. Practice with hotel staff + locals during trip. Sri Lankans warmly receive foreign attempts. Instant conversation opener.

For essentials: focus on greetings (ayubowan, istuti), numbers (eka, deka, thuna...), directions (kohomada, kohee), food ordering (vathura = water, thera = tea), politeness (kollel, mahaththaya). 30-50 phrases + numbers covers 80% of tourist situations.

Key pronunciation tips: (1) Sinhala vowels 'a' 'e' 'i' 'o' 'u' + long versions. (2) Aspirated + unaspirated consonants ('k' vs 'kh', 'th' vs 't'). (3) Retroflex sounds (tongue up + back - unfamiliar to English speakers). (4) Emphasis on second syllable often. (5) Word tone matters (rising vs falling vs flat). Practice with native speaker feedback.

Question: is spoken Sinhala 'proper' Sinhala (Sanskrit-influenced formal) or 'street' Sinhala (colloquial daily) more practical? Reading conflicting advice on which to focus on for tourist conversations vs deeper understanding.

Practical apps: Sinhala Keyboard (typing practice), SLSinhalaEnglish Dictionary (offline dictionary), YouTube channel 'Sinhala for Beginners' by various teachers. Start with English > Sinhala for typing, transition to writing Sinhala script later if serious.