Is Sri Lanka safe?
Photo: OceanEye
We are getting a lot of questions about the current situation in Sri Lanka and we understand that you have thoughts about it. We want you to have the best experience of the island, so here is our perspective!
Worried? We can with honestly answer your questions. We live here, read the news and experience what is going on. Until July things were less good, but everything has improved since then. Here are answers to your most common worries:
Things are calm. We get comments about riots and violence, but 99% of the demonstrations were peaceful and an expression of the people´s power. Now, there is no more protests as the people got the president to resign.
There is food. Actually, there was never a general food shortage. Sometimes some produce were unavailable, but it didn’t last long and you could choose substitutes during that time.
There is fuel. For us who live in SL there is a fuel quota since August. A system with QR-codes was implemented to make sure these quotas are followed. Thanks to this to fuel ques have dissapeared. Now you dont need to que, there is fuel, and for tourists there is an unlimited fuel pass that can be purchased and used for transportation.
Powercuts are limited. Since many months back the powercuts are limited to 0-2 hours/day and they are scheduled which makes it easy to plan and be prepared. We always wanted to have solar power anyway, something we hope to install in 2023.
People are welcoming. Most people will welcome you with open arms, kind and warm like always. Guests even told us the immigration at the airport thanked them for coming back.
But media says there are riots?!?
It is very sad and unfortunate for Sri Lanka that the international media only reports the bad stuff because things are definitely improving and it is completely safe for a tourist to visit the country.
Of course, the situation is tough for a lot of families and businesses who are affected by the inflation and lost income. As a guest to this island you are safe and while enjoying your holiday you can save local businesses and families by buying locally produced goods, visit restaurants and support small businesses.
Sri Lanka is still paradise.