Asia and Oceania

• Travel Summary
• Safety and security
• Local laws and customs
• Entry requirements

• Health
• Natural disasters
• General
 

Local laws and customs

You are subject to local laws in Sri Lanka and violating them may result in a jail sentence.

There are severe penalties for all drug offences and crimes related to the abuse of children.   In some circumstances detainees can be held without charge, indefinitely and convicted offenders may face lengthy jail sentences.

Same sex relations are illegal.

Nude or topless sunbathing is generally not allowed.

Although Sri Lankan attitudes to informal European styles of dress are generally relaxed, women travelling alone, especially after dark, may be made to feel uncomfortable if not dressed modestly.  You should consider religious and other sensibilities.  Do not enter a Buddhist temple wearing headgear or with bare legs or shoulders and always remove footwear.  You should avoid posing for photographs standing in front of a statue of Buddha.

You can be fined if you ignore instructions not to smoke or drink in certain public areas.

Security checkpoints are common. You must carry a form of official photographic identification on you at all times.

Alcohol and meat are not usually for sale on religious holidays.

For more general information for different types of travellers see Your Trip.