Safety in Sri Lanka: what overland travellers should know

Our summary of the country advice published by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Viaggiare Sicuri) on 27 August 2026.

Safety

Mines in the north — Security forces keep tight control countrywide and especially in the northern districts of Vavuniya, Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu, where you can run into roadblocks and identity checks. In Jaffna, Kilinochchi and Mullaittivu take maximum care: demining is still under way in some areas and access around military installations may be barred. Foreign passport holders no longer need a permit for the Northern Province, but follow the security forces' instructions and watch for mine warning signs — about 93% of the affected areas are currently cleared.
Public order — Since the end of the armed conflict in 2009 the country has been largely calm, interrupted by the Easter 2019 terrorist attacks and the April 2022 protests during the debt crisis. Public order is currently stable with no particular problems, but follow local instructions and keep in mind the situation can change fast.
Terrorism — The risk of a revival of terrorism by Islamist groups, responsible for the serious 2019 attacks in Colombo, Negombo and Batticaloa, persists, though it currently looks remote. In 2024 there were alerts about possible attacks around Arugam Bay, which never happened.
Landslides close roads — Landslides remain a risk, above all after bad weather and heavy rain, as cyclone Ditwah showed between November and December 2025. Check with local authorities before departure and follow the Sri Lanka Department of Meteorology; for road passability after landslides or a natural disaster the Disaster Management Centre answers on 177, and the Sri Lanka Tourism hotline runs 24 hours on 1912.
Crime and harassment — Theft and pickpocketing against foreigners are not widespread and turn up mainly in the tourist spots of the south. There have been cases of harassment and sexual assault against Western women travellers, and women travelling alone in particular are advised to behave with maximum caution.
Sea currents — Take great care swimming in the ocean: currents are dangerous even close to the shore and the undertow waves are strong.

Before you rely on this

This is our summary of advice written by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Italian travellers, published on 27 August 2026. We summarise in good faith, but we cannot guarantee it is accurate, current or complete, and we take no responsibility for decisions made on the basis of it. Rules change without notice and are applied by officials at the border, not by websites. Always read the original source and the travel advice your own government publishes for Sri Lanka before you travel. GuideMeet has no way of checking whether an individual guide meets any standard mentioned here — ask them directly.

Source: Viaggiare Sicuri — Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, updated 27 August 2026. Last checked by GuideMeet on 2026-09-20.