Travel Risk Report: Sri Lanka

Travel risk in Sri Lanka varies according to the area, the key concern is medical support. Petty crime, such as pick-pocketing and bag-snatching, is known to occur in Colombo, Kandy and other cities (particularly in marketplaces, at sporting events and on public transport). Theft from hotels and guesthouses has been known to occur in the south and west coast resort areas and there have been reports of harassment towards foreign women by groups of men, ranging from sexually suggestive comments to physical advances. The Sri Lankan Civil War between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) ended in May 2009 with the military defeat of the LTTE. No major terrorist attacks have occurred since the end of the war. Demonstrations are a regular occurrence in Colombo and some have turned violent in the past. The main concern in Sri Lanka is around medical facilities which are largely inadequate, however, there are a few private hospitals in Colombo which offer better medical care. This is a brief overview and our advice would be to thoroughly research your destination prior to travel. Our travel risk department can provide country reports, risk summaries, advice and support to help mitigate risk further.