Sri Lanka Is Largely Safe To Travel
Is it safe to travel to Sri Lanka? While there are some precautions that visitors to Sri Lanka should take, the country as a whole is relatively safe. For some historical backdrop, Sri Lanka was ravaged by a horrific civil war from 1983 to 2009, which kept most tourists away. However, since the end of the war, Sri Lanka has been steadily rebuilding its tourism industry, and each year, an increasing number of tourists visit this beautiful country. Unfortunately, the administration of the country has had to proclaim a state of emergency twice since then. One was enforced in early 2018 as a result of violence between the island's Sinhalese and Muslim communities, especially around Kandy. Sri Lanka throughout that year had political turbulence and instability, as well as protests.
On Easter Sunday in 2019, Islamist militants bombed churches and hotels, killing 258 people. The Shangri-La Hotel, Cinnamon Grand Hotel, The Kingsbury, and the Tropical Inn in Colombo were among the hotels bombed. The bloodiest attack took place near the main Bandaranaike International Airport in Negombo, inside a church. The US government has issued a Level 2 Travel Advisory for Sri Lanka, indicating that visitors should proceed with caution. France, Mexico, and the United Kingdom are among the countries having a Level 2 advisory.
As with any destination, take the essential precautions to safeguard your safety. When crossing busy roads, exercise the same caution you would when driving in any unknown location, and always look both ways.
