Published: August 25, 2025
This report is intended to supplement the U.S. Department of State Sri Lanka Travel Advisory and Sri Lanka Country Information Page.
Embassy & Consulate Contact Information
U.S. Embassy Colombo
210 Galle Road, Colombo 3
Tel: +94 11-202-8500
After-Hours Emergencies: +94 11-202-8500. Hours: 0800-1730, Monday-Thursday, and 0800-1200 Friday.
OSAC Country Chapters
The Colombo Country Chapter meets quarterly. Interested private-sector security managers should contact OSAC’s Asia team with any questions.
Sri Lanka Travel Advisory
The current U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory at the date of this report’s publication assesses that travelers should exercise increased caution in Sri Lanka due to civil unrest and terrorism.
Crime
The U.S. Department of State has assessed Colombo as being a MEDIUM-threat location for crime directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Crime “C” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Sri Lanka.
The crime emergency line in Sri Lanka is 119. An additional police emergency line for Colombo is (94) 11-243-3333.
Most crimes against U.S. citizens continue to be petty crime and crimes of opportunity (e.g., pickpocketing, hotel room thefts, and fraud). There is some organized criminal activity, which can involve drug-related crimes and gang-on-gang violence, but these events do not tend to involve foreign travelers.
Use cash for routine transactions when possible. Even if one has a Sri Lankan residency card, there have been reports that individuals who appear Western or foreign will be asked to pay in their foreign currency exclusively, a choice that may not be available unless an individual recently arrived in Sri Lanka with a reserve of foreign cash. There are occasional reports of credit card fraud, which is a persistent threat. Authorities have arrested foreign nationals and organized groups for complicity in financial crimes. Avoid situations where your card is removed from your view. There have been reports of employees at reputable businesses (e.g., restaurants, chain grocery stores) wearing data skimming devices in their clothing and scanning a victim’s credit card or using other methods to steal credit card information. ATM skimming is also a threat. If you use an ATM, be on the lookout for skimming devices. Cover keypads with your hand.
Sexual harassment is pervasive. Both foreigners and locals, more commonly women, report instances of cat calls and physical harassment (grabbing of body parts) while in crowded areas and/or public transportation.
There are no particular areas in Colombo that are known to have especially high rates of crime. Street hustlers are common around popular hotels, shopping areas, and other tourist sites. There are occasional reports of snatch and grab theft of purses or jewelry owned by tourists, but no recent reports of armed robberies. The U.S. Embassy has not recorded any recent reports of armed robberies of tourists.
Beware of tuk-tuk or taxi drivers offering “special” tours or access to festivals or gem shops. This common scam often results in tourists being heavily pressured to buy “gems” that are either cut glass or are worth much less than the price being asked. The U.S. Embassy has also warned female travelers of instances of sexual harassment by tuk-tuk drivers. Likely due to Sri Lanka’s economic situation, there is a scam in which a tuk-tuk driver charges your ride using an app on their phone, claiming the meter is broken. Then, when you get close to the destination, the phone either slips down or the app closes, and they charge a much higher amount than the routine cost. If a tuk-tuk does not have a meter, agree on a price before beginning the ride, and try to have the correct amount of cash so you do not need change. Surf schools are known to run scams where they claim renters damaged their boards and demand exorbitant prices to repair the damage.
Kidnapping Threat
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Kidnapping “K” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Sri Lanka.
Kidnappings occur infrequently, and if they do, they occur mainly within the local community. The motive is usually political or business-related. Victims and their families have blamed kidnappings on security services (extrajudicial detentions/arrests, often called “white van kidnappings”). The U.S. Embassy is not aware of any kidnappings involving U.S. citizens in Sri Lanka.
Terrorism
The U.S. Department of State has assessed Colombo as being a MEDIUM-threat location for terrorism directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.
The U.S. Department of State has included a Terrorism “T” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Sri Lanka, indicating that terrorist attacks have occurred and/or specific threats against civilians, groups, or other targets may exist.
Terrorist attacks have occurred in Sri Lanka, with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets, shopping malls, government facilities, hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, parks, major sporting and cultural events, educational institutions, airports, hospitals, and other public areas.
In October to November of 2024 the U.S. Embassy received credible information about an imminent terrorist attack in Arugam Bay, a popular beach tourist destination. The area was put off limits to Embassy personnel and travel warnings were issued. Sri Lankan authorities took the threat seriously and initiated special security operations to secure the affected areas. Eventually, the threat was disrupted, and the restriction was lifted. There are currently no travel restrictions in Sri Lanka due to terrorist threat.
The last terrorist attack in Sri Lanka occurred on April 21, 2019, when terrorists carried out coordinated bombings of hotels and churches in Colombo and Batticaloa, killing more than 250 people and injuring more than 500 more. The terrorists were Sri Lankan nationals associated with the Islamist groups National Thowheeth Jama’ath and Jamathei Millathu Ibraheem. Authorities believe that all the perpetrators of the attack are dead or have been captured. The President declared a state of emergency that lasted until August 2019, during which there was a significant increase in police and military presence throughout the country. Many large hotels and shopping areas increased their physical security presence in response to the bombings and security screening of guests and bags has become standard in many locations. Sri Lanka continues to be a potential target for Islamic extremists.
The threat from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE, or Tamil Tigers) is currently minimal. There have been no LTTE terrorist attacks since 2009. The civil conflict between the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE lasted nearly three decades. The conflict was mired with human rights abuses, such as abduction, extortion, and the use of child soldiers. After independence from Great Britain, the majority Sinhalese population disenfranchised the minority Tamil population of migrant workers, who were previously favored under British rule. Sinhalese authorities made Sinhala the official language; in the ensuing years, language became a source of ethnic tension that carries a legacy to today. Out of the growing ethnic tension, the LTTE began to campaign for a Tamil homeland in northern and eastern Sri Lanka. The group became a guerilla terrorist organization capable of carrying out suicide bombings and resisting security forces across Sri Lanka. The government defeated the LTTE in 2009 after a military campaign that many human rights groups claim was conducted with impunity. LTTE leadership did not survive the campaign, and the group was largely eliminated. However, sympathetic elements remain within and outside the country. Even though the LTTE was defeated, the larger problem of integrating the island’s minority Tamil population still remains.
Political Violence and Civil Unrest
The U.S. Department of State has assessed Colombo as being a MEDIUM-threat location for political violence directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.
The U.S. Department of State has included a Civil Unrest “U” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Sri Lanka, indicating that demonstrations, protests, and/or strikes occur frequently, and/or that local law enforcement may have limited ability to respond adequately. Civil unrest can develop quickly without prior notice, often interrupting logistics and services. Avoid demonstration activity, as even those planned to remain peaceful have the potential to turn violent.
Elections/Political Stability
In September 2024, Sri Lanka held a presidential election; Anura Dissanayake of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna party won a plurality of votes and therefore the election. Two months later, the country held a parliamentary election, in which the National People’s Power coalition (led by Dissanayake) won more than 60% of the vote and captured nearly 160 of 225 seats in the country’s parliament. There were no reports of violence during either election.
Protests & Demonstrations
In general, demonstrations in Sri Lanka are peaceful, resulting only in traffic congestion. However, some have ended in violence between the protestors and police or opposition groups. Some protests over domestic political issues have resulted in violent clashes, gun violence, and casualties. Demonstrations can involve confrontations with police, resulting in the use of water cannons and tear gas to disperse crowds. Large political rallies are common and can draw crowds of more than 100,000 people. These rallies are generally peaceful but can disrupt traffic.
While most demonstrations relate to domestic politics, protests directed toward Western embassies and international organizations are not unknown. 2024 and 2025 saw frequent small protests staged in front of the U.S. Embassy in Colombo. Nearly all of the protests were focused on the conflict in the Middle East.
The law provides for freedom of peaceful assembly, but these freedoms are subject to multiple restrictions. The constitution restricts the freedom of assembly in the interest of religious harmony, national security, public order, or the protection of public health or morality. Freedom of peaceful assembly also may be restricted in the interest of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others or in the interest of meeting the just requirements of the general welfare of a democratic society. Under a police ordinance, protesters must seek permission from the local police before holding a protest.
Protests over the economic and political situation in Sri Lanka could erupt at any time.
Anti-U.S./Anti-Western Sentiment
Disinformation and conspiracy theories spread quickly on social media used by Sri Lankans, and the United States, the UN, and the international community are often the targets of these disinformation campaigns. Many people receive their news through social media, which means there are few alternative sources of information that could quickly stem the spread of an online rumor.
Sri Lanka was previously colonized by the Dutch, the Portuguese, and the British; this history has made Sri Lankans very suspicious of foreign powers' intentions. In 2019, two defense cooperation agreements between the United States and Sri Lanka triggered protest and increased anti-U.S. sentiment. In general, U.S. travelers are not usually targets of hostility.
Many Sri Lankans also distrust the UN because of its calls to investigate alleged human rights abuses that occurred at the end of the Sri Lankan Civil War. The Sri Lankan government denies the allegations, and the Sri Lankan military remains one of the most popular institutions in the country. International human rights criticism has drawn the Sri Lankan government closer to countries such as Russia, which does not condemn Sri Lankan authorities for any human rights abuses or their refusal to acknowledge these documented abuses.
Law Enforcement
The Sri Lanka Police Service (SLP) falls under the Defense Ministry. The SLP is composed of approximately 60 functional divisions. The primary divisions and their purposes are as follows:
- Inspector General of Police: The senior-most police official.
- Senior Deputy Inspectors General: One S/DIG is assigned to each of nine “ranges” to serve as the senior law enforcement official for each province.
- Criminal Investigation Division (CID): Serious and complex criminal investigations, has countrywide jurisdiction and oversees Terrorism Investigation Division (TID).
- Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB): Illicit narcotics investigations and demand reduction activities.
- Special Task Force (STF): Elite police paramilitary unit, Explosive Ordnance Disposal, protective security, special weapons and tactics.
- Special Protection Range - President’s Security Division / Prime Minister Security Division / Ministerial Security Division/ Judicial Security Division / Diplomatic Security Division; each specializes in protective duties.
Sri Lanka’s security agencies have been accused of human rights abuses. For example, human rights organizations allege that law enforcement uses the discredited Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) to commit prolonged arbitrary detention and torture. The PTA allows law enforcement to arrest anyone, without a warrant, for unspecified “unlawful activities” and to detain suspects for up to 18 months without producing them before a court.
Police Response
Emergency services personnel answer the phone 24 hours a day, but police responsiveness may vary due to limited resources. Although there are allegations of corruption and politicization of security services, the Sri Lanka Police Service (SLPS) is becoming increasingly professional, particularly in its specialized units. However, police officers often lack resources and training, especially at the lower ranks. Police do not always speak English well, and the Embassy gets occasional reports of police attempting to bribe citizens for alleged minor traffic offenses. Response time varies and can be lengthy depending on the type of incident; response to traffic-related incidents can be inefficient.
Travelers with Special Considerations
For specific traveler concerns in Sri Lanka, review the local laws and circumstances on the Department of State’s Country Information Page.
Rule of Law, Arbitrary Detention, Official Harassment, Corruption, & Transparency
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Risk of Wrongful Detention “D” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Sri Lanka.
The law prohibits arbitrary arrest and detention and provides for the right of any person to challenge the lawfulness of his or her arrest or detention in court. The government generally did not observe these requirements.
The Prevention of Terrorism Act permits government authorities to enter homes and monitor communications without judicial or other official authorization. Government authorities have reportedly monitored private movements without authorization.
The law provides criminal penalties for corruption by officials, but the government does not implement the law effectively. There are numerous reports of government corruption.
Corruption remained a significant and continuing problem, including at the highest levels of government. The new Sri Lankan government, elected in 2024, have made tackling corruption a priority. International companies frequently reported requests for bribes on matters ranging from customs clearances to government procurement. In July 2023, parliament passed, by unanimous consent, new anti-corruption legislation. This was a required structural benchmark of the International Monetary Fund program. The legislation expanded the mandate of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) and changed both the way CIABOC was funded and how it could recruit investigators in order to provide greater independence. The law required politicians to publicly declare assets. The law also expanded and created new criminal offenses for corruption, including recognizing the demand for sexual favors as a criminal form of corruption, and increased the fines for offenses.
Human rights concerns related to law enforcement in Sri Lanka include reports of security forces participating in extrajudicial killings during and after the Sri Lankan Civil War. There have also been reports of torture and cases of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment by the government, arbitrary arrest and detention, and arbitrary and unlawful interference with privacy. These threats are not known to target foreigners or the private sector.
Cybersecurity
Multiple types of cybersecurity attacks increasingly pose a threat to internet users in Sri Lanka, including socially engineered trojan attacks, malware attacks, phishing attacks, advanced persistent threats, botnets, ransomware, and financial frauds. Authorities have acknowledged that the government alone cannot combat these vulnerabilities; instead, private sector hardware and software vendors, Telcos and ISPs, private sector critical infrastructure owners, academics, and end users all must combine efforts to combat cybersecurity vulnerabilities in Sri Lankan internet use.
Import/Export Restrictions
Under the Cultural Prosperity Act and the Antiques Ordinance, the unlicensed export of antiques from the country is considered a criminal act. When arriving in Sri Lanka, ensure your luggage does not contain prohibited or restricted items, such as weapons, ammunition, explosives, gold, narcotics, and pornography. Read the U.S. Department of State’s webpage on customs and import restrictions for information on what you cannot take into or out of other countries.
The Government of Sri Lanka has strict restrictions on all imports.
A country-specific listing of items/goods prohibited from being exported to the country or that are otherwise restricted is available from the U.S. International Trade Agency website.
Additional resources and reports can be found in the OSAC Traveler Toolkit.
