Sri Lanka

Is Sri Lanka safe to visit?

Yes, for most travellers. Violent crime against foreigners is rare, according to the UK Foreign Office, and the island has recovered from the 2022 economic crisis that brought fuel queues, curfews and the storming of the president's house. The 2026 Global Peace IndexGlobal Peace IndexAn annual ranking of 163 countries by how peaceful they are, based on conflict, crime, militarisation and political instability.More in the glossary moved Sri Lanka up to 67th of 163, the second most peaceful country in South Asia after Bhutan. The risks that do hurt visitors are on the road, in the water and from the weather. We score Sri Lanka 67, well above India and close to Thailand.

The roads and the buses

Road crashes are the most likely way for a visitor to be badly hurt. Sri Lanka Police counted 1,351 deaths in the first half of 2025, up 129 on the same months of 2024, and WHO's modelled estimate for 2019 was 19.7 deaths per 100,000 people, higher than India's. The FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary singles out public buses, which are driven fast, rarely give way and are often poorly maintained, and says riding a motorbike is especially dangerous. Night driving is worst.

Most visitors avoid the problem by hiring a car with a driver through a company registered with the Sri Lanka Tourist Board. If you want to drive yourself, you need a 1949 international driving permit plus a local recognition permit from the Automobile Association of Ceylon in Colombo. Security checkpoints still exist on some main roads; always stop when told to.

Cyclone Ditwah and the monsoons

Sri Lanka gets two monsoons, and the hill country around Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and Badulla is where landslides kill. Cyclone Ditwah, which crossed the island at the end of November 2025, was the worst disaster in years: by 7 December the Disaster Management Centre counted 627 dead and 190 missing, with all 25 districts affected. Kandy district had the most deaths. In September 2026 the FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary again warned of heavy inter-monsoon rain, floods and landslides.

If you travel between October and January, keep a day or two of slack in a hill-country itinerary and check the Disaster Management Centre and the Department of Meteorology before setting out.

Terrorism and politics

On Easter Sunday 2019, suicide bombers attacked three churches and three hotels in Colombo, Negombo and Batticaloa, killing more than 250 people, including eight Britons. There has been nothing on that scale since, but both the US and UK say further attacks cannot be ruled out, and the US keeps Sri Lanka at Level 2 partly for that reason. Protests over the economy can still flare, and police use tear gas and water cannon.

In the north and east, landmines from the civil war remain in about 23 square kilometres, mostly in the Northern Province. Stay on roads and cleared paths around Jaffna, Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu, and take the skull-and-crossbones signs seriously.

Theft, scams and harassment

The FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary notes an increase in low-level opportunistic crime: theft from guesthouses, bags snatched by people on mopeds, and frequent bank card fraud. Use ATMs inside banks or hotels. Drink spiking has been reported, with victims robbed or assaulted. Women report harassment, from comments to groping and assault, mostly in crowded markets, buses and stations. Tuk-tuk drivers overcharge visitors; agree the fare first or use a ride-hailing app.

Health

Dengue is the disease to plan for: it is present all year and peaks with the rains, so use repellent by day. Chikungunya is also present, and rabid dogs are common; the CDC says rabies vaccine is often not available after a bite, so consider the pre-travel course if you will be in rural areas. WHO certified Sri Lanka malaria-free in 2016. Private hospitals in Colombo are good, but outside the main cities emergency care is limited and patients are often moved to Colombo.

How to stay safe in Sri Lanka

• Hire a car and driver for long distances; avoid night journeys and public buses.
• Swim only at beaches your hotel recommends; rip currents are strong in monsoon season.
• Stay inside the train carriage while moving, especially on the Kandy to Ella line.
• Carry your passport or a copy; police may ask for it.
• Do not pose with your back to a Buddha statue, and cover Buddha tattoos.
• Save 119 (police), 1990 (ambulance) and 1912 (tourist hotline).

How we scored it

Violent crime (80) and conflict (75) are Sri Lanka's strengths. Road safety (55) and natural hazards (50) are the weakest factors, reflecting fast buses, rising road deaths and the toll of Cyclone Ditwah. Confidence is medium because the latest UNODC homicide figure is from 2022. For a calmer, resort-based alternative nearby, see the Maldives.