After the Easter Sunday 2019 bombings by terrorists in Sri Lanka, the question you are bound to ask before coming here is: “Is Sri Lanka safe?” The glib retort to that question is to ask: “Is anywhere safe?”
The government travel advisories of many countries advise visitors to Sri Lanka to be wary. If you’re planning to visit Sri Lanka for the first time soon, this is bound to be worrying. However, that’s the reaction you’d expect from responsible governments protecting their citizens visiting foreign countries.
So what to do? Should you come to Sri Lanka for a holiday?
Jerry & Sally, the owners of Jungle Tide tea estate guest bungalow (www.jungletide.com) near Kandy have addressed this question from personal experience. Here are edited extracts from Jerry’s recent newsletter: He writes:
“Here are our views – from as close to the horse’s mouth as most of you are likely to get, As a small guesthouse we are getting some cancellations, not really that many so far, and we are hoping to keep it that way! …Although we have had a number of cancellations, many other people have written to us, saying they will not cancel and refuse to be terrorised, and choose instead to stand in solidarity with the vast majority of the good, gentle, and innocent Sri Lankan people. We applaud both your courage and your logic!
“Whilst it cannot be denied that the Sri Lankan Government was negligent in the extreme in allowing this attack to happen, it has to be said that security has now been stepped up substantially, and it would be very much harder for anything like this to happen again now or in the near future.
“So logic would seem to us to dictate that it is more likely that IS and their murderous cronies are most likely to look for the next soft, unprepared South or East Asian target country…. So think twice before you cancel and rebook for somewhere else you perceive as “safe” just because it has not yet been attacked. We none of us really know what is safe anymore!
From here, it feels safe – there are a comforting amount of police on the streets, bag checks are done when entering major buildings. Those tourists who have still come are finding it far less crowded than usual. You can experience national parks without being in a traffic jam of jeeps. You can climb Sigiriya without being in a crocodile of people. You can experience Sri Lanka in all its wonder and beauty as it was before the tourist boom got going a few years ago. They do say that ‘fortune favours the brave’ after all!
So, we hope that you will think carefully before cancelling your holiday and here are 5 reasons
- It is probably safer here now than it was before (you just didn’t know it!)
- The economy of Sri Lanka needs you!
- The country is still just as stunningly beautiful – but less crowded, perhaps until Christmas.
- Show the terrorists that their disgusting terror tactics do not work.
- We feel safe as do most of the people who are still here as visitors or residents.
Sri Lanka Holiday Guru Tip
If you are staying in Colombo, though, try to avoid street demonstrations. Sri Lanka Holiday guru has a whole section on things to be aware in Sri Lanka
If you are travelling on a package tour, listen to your guide. If you are travelling independently or alone in tourist areas, you will certainly be approached by charming Sri Lankans eager to talk so they can interest you in something. If that’s not your scene, just be firm in your refusal and walk on.
Take care of your belongings so you don’t make a tempting target for a snatch thief on the beach, buses or trains. The greatest risk for tourists is not other people but themselves. Behave sensibly. Getting drunk or drugged with strangers? Watch out. Wandering alone in the moonlight on a remote beach? Hmm…
A major hazard to visitors’ safety is the sea. It is not as calm and inviting as it looks because dangerous undertows exist close to the shore. Swim only where it is popular with others, and not where red flags are flying.
Worried about the water? Is it safe for drinking? Probably not if it’s from a river, a well, or an unknown source. But treated, filtered, bottled water is available cheaply everywhere (Rs.50 – Rs.200).
Living here, we are carrying on as usual after the Easter Sunday bombings. There are more random checks by police of vehicles and passengers, and there are checks of body (with a handheld scanner) and bags when entering shopping malls. Hotel security has always been in place but has been tightened up. These checks are not annoying but also reassuring as they are for your own safety.
Cooperation with the authorities is the way to avoid exasperation, inconvenience and to stay safe.
Do remember: Always carry photographic identification (preferably your passport) with you. You are liable to be detained if you can’t provide a satisfactory ID.
