Security in Sri Lanka

Unfortunately, an absolutely safe country Sri Lanka can not yet be called. Since 1983, the Tamil-Sinhalese civil armed conflict took place here, which ended only in 2009 with the victory of government troops. The roots of the conflict lay in the long-standing confrontation between the ethnic Sinhalese (predominantly Buddhists) and the Tamil minority (predominantly Hindus).

As a result of this war, mined areas remained, so warnings about a minefield should be taken seriously. Do not be surprised that on the streets of cities you can see armed people (mostly policemen), and roadblocks. Due to increased security measures, Sri Lanka is one of the safest tourist destinations, however, the tension is felt, especially after the events in April 2019. But outside of major cities, in resort areas, on beaches and hotel areas, you will hardly feel that there have been any problems in this country recently.

With crime in Sri Lanka, the situation is favorable. There are very few serious crimes. The maximum that a tourist can suffer from is theft and fraud. Theft of personal belongings from rooms, pickpocketing, theft from safes in hotels, theft of things on beaches is not uncommon, so in this matter you should take the necessary security measures, which can be read in the article "safety of money and documents during travel". Robberies with tearing out bags, phones, cameras are extremely rare.

A really serious problem for tourists in Sri Lanka are all sorts of scams and small deceptions in order to get more money from tourists. Fraudsters sell tourists non-existent tourist services, tickets, speculate. They even cheat in the temples of "false Abbots" or "false monks". A huge problem with the drivers of tku-Tuks, who lure tourists to their tuk-tuk "Terry lies". Always be on the alert and double-check what local businessmen and molesters tell you: they are ready to deceive you even in such seemingly harmless things as the opening hours of attractions, just to get their benefits.

Here are for your information some of the easiest ways to take money from tourists in Sri Lanka:

• An unexpected favor. The entrance fee to the attraction or service is announced to you after you have received it. Moreover, you will learn that you were provided with a service, already at the exit.
• Unexpected surcharges. Sri Lankans are very fond of including all sorts of unexpected fees and taxes in the final cost of any service or product. This can be service fees or state taxes at the hotel, wear and tear fees for renting a motorcycle, renting a helmet and whatnot. Worst of all, you will only learn about the need to pay these fees if you have already received a service or product, and there is no way to refuse. Even if you first asked the direct question "are taxes included, is this the final price?", this is not a guarantee that they will not be required from you anyway.
• Friends are helpers. In almost any attraction, a person can attach himself to you, who will say a few words about this place, and will constantly follow you. At the end of the inspection, he will announce to you that he is a guide, conducted a tour for you, and will demand money for it. Often such "well-wishers" speak just on the street, and will follow you and pester you with personal friendly questions, and then ask for money for escort.
• More friends-helpers. Any person who allegedly accidentally talks to you on the street will definitely try, under some pretext, to take you to the store or bring you to the tray, where he receives a commission for you. Of course, all this is very well rehearsed, and this casual acquaintance can introduce himself, for example, as a chef from the kitchen in your hotel. All this, in any case, is aimed at selling you some "garbage" at fabulous prices, or simply asking you for money for escort.
• Paid gifts. At the entrance to the temple you can give a flower or give a candle, and even if you ask how much it costs, you will be told that it is free so that you do not refuse. On the way out of the temple, the same person will catch you, and will demand money.
• Unexpected paid parking. Leaving the motorcycle in some place, on your return you suddenly find out that this place is a paid parking lot, and you have to pay an unreasonable amount even for five minutes of parking.
• Extra charge for parking. Even in a paid parking lot near attractions, where you officially paid and received a receipt for payment, on your return you can expect molesters who "looked after" your motorcycle separately, for which he will demand money.
• Payment for shoes. When entering temples and attractions, you will be asked to take off your shoes, and will not be allowed to take them with you even in a bag or backpack. On the way out, of course, they will demand money for storage.

Health and medicine in Sri Lanka

Medicine in Sri Lanka is at a fairly high level. Clinics are free and paid. Of course, it is better to seek help from paid institutions, but it is best in such cases to have an insurance policy.

Medicines in local pharmacies can be found almost any, but among them there are many fakes or they are of very low quality. Therefore, do not buy into low prices in local pharmacies, and it is better to bring the drugs that are really important to you with you.

Follow these guidelines:

• Make out a tourist medical starhovka before the trip.
• You can not drink tap water. Use purchased bottled water for drinking and brushing your teeth.
• Always wash your hands thoroughly before eating.
• Mandatory vaccinations are not required to enter Sri Lanka, but vaccinations against hepatitis (A and B), tetanus, diphtheria and typhoid are recommended. If you come from regions declared a yellow fever infection zone (usually countries in Africa and South America), vaccination is mandatory.
• Protect yourself from bites of mosquitoes (mosquitoes), possible carriers of dangerous diseases, with the help of repellents and clothing covering exposed areas of the skin.
• It is recommended to conduct a preventive course against malaria.

Sri Lankan safety guidelines and traditions of conduct

• Drugs are illegal in Sri Lanka and carry the death penalty. Inside the country, light drugs can be bought quite freely, but it can also be a provocation followed by a divorce for money.
• Be careful with monkeys: not only can they bite you, but they can also steal your belongings by pulling them right off you. how to behave with monkeys, precautions)
• Nudity is illegal in Sri Lanka. You can sunbathe topless only on private beaches or at swimming pools in hotels
• Do not take pictures of military facilities, government offices, police and military
• When visiting temples, dress appropriately, do not enter temples in shorts, a short skirt, with an open back and shoulders, in a headdress. Take off your shoes before entering the temple
• Do not touch the monk's head. Women can not touch the monk at all
• Do not turn your back on images and statues of Buddha even while taking pictures. If you really want to be photographed against the background of the Buddha, then it is better to move away from the subject
• Do not use your left hand to eat, accept or pass anything with your left hand. The left hand in Sri Lanka is used in the toilet, and not with toilet paper, and therefore nothing else is done to it (with the left hand).
• Pointing your index finger at someone is considered a very rude gesture in Sri Lanka.
• Head gestures "yes" and "no" in Sri Lanka work the other way around: nodding your head means "No" and side-to - side and shrugging your shoulders means "Yes".

Sri Lanka Customs regulations

According to the current legislation duty-free is allowed to import into Sri Lanka:

• Items and clothing for personal use
• Two bottles of wine and one and a half liters of spirits per person (see fig . import of alcohol to Sri Lanka)
• Toilet water in the amount of no more than 0.25 liters, a small amount of perfume and souvenirs with a total cost of no more than $ 250 and not for commercial purposes.

Import of cigarettes is allowed only upon payment of Duty. All other things not from the list above, equipment, jewelry, etc., by law must be declared for the possibility of their further export.

All this is according to the law, but in fact not every tourist goes to pay a fee for a couple of packs of cigarettes and an extra bottle of wine. Tourists are almost never inspected when entering or leaving the country, although, if you are carrying expensive equipment (photo, video camera), it will not be superfluous to declare them so that there are no problems when leaving.

Import/export is prohibited

• drugs
• pornographic and propaganda materials
• anti-religious materials

Import/export of currency to Sri Lanka

The amount of foreign currency imported into Sri Lanka is unlimited, but amounts over the equivalent of $15,000 (including traveller's cheques and bank liabilities) must be declared. When importing currency, an amount equivalent to more than $5,000 is subject to declaration if you intend to export it back.

Indian and Pakistani currency are prohibited for import/export.

The import/export of Sri Lanka's national currency is limited to a maximum of 5,000 rupees.

Import of alcohol to Sri Lanka

In Sri Lanka, it is allowed to import two bottles of wine and one and a half liters of spirits per person, but only for persons over 18 years old.

Some popular sources on the Internet mistakenly indicate that you can import either wine or spirits. This is not true, you can import both wine and spirits at the same time. Here is a quote from the Official Rules "Two regular-size bottles of wine and one and a half liters of spirits".