Travel tips and Safety advice – Lankan guide

• If you need an emergency ambulance, call 119 or 110 on the National Emergency Number.
• Use insect repellent during the rainy season because Dengue fever is a common issue and there is no vaccine for it.
• Although Colombo, Kandy, Galle, Gampaha, Kalutara, Matara, and Nuwara are thought to be protected from malaria, it is a concern. Do, however, exercise caution by dressing in layers in the evenings, using bug spray, and sleeping under a mosquito net. For further information, visit the NHS Fit for Travel website. It’s also a good idea to regularly check the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) for the most recent information about dangers.
• Bring a basic medical kit as well as any prescription medications and a copy of your prescription since many medications may not be widely available in Sri Lanka.
• Minor diseases and accidents can be treated well in the major cities’ hospitals, but you may need to travel if you need more specialized care. Make sure your travel insurance covers any adventure activities you might partake in while on your trip, as well as medical evacuation and emergency repatriation.
• Watch out for undercooked seafood or meat, salads that have been washed in contaminated water, already-peeled fruit if you don’t know who peeled it, and occasionally ice cream from street vendors to prevent stomach issues.
• Even though visitors seldom get bitten by snakes, you should always get medical help right away.
• In some places, altitude sickness might occur, so allow your body to acclimate to the altitude gradually and stay hydrated.
• Drink only bottled water; avoid tap water, ice in drinks, and fruit and vegetables unless you are peeling them yourself.

Safety Tips

• Every child will want to ride in a tuk-tuk, a three-wheeled car that functions something like a taxi. Just be aware that there are no seatbelts on them. Taxis are frequently less expensive for longer trips anyway.
• Even though the far north is only now becoming accessible following the conclusion of the war, its infrastructure is still being built, so unless you are accustomed to roughing it with your family or travelling with an experienced tour operator, you may perhaps keep an eye on this space for a bit.
• Make sure the supplier is certified for water sports and that buoyancy aids and helmets are accessible.
• It is advised to stick to the small, enclosed bays when swimming on the south and southwest coasts due to the presence of a very strong rip.
• If you are an anxious passenger, use the train or a taxi instead of the bus because buses in Sri Lanka don’t have a great reputation for safe driving.
• In some areas of the north, there are regrettably still unexploded landmines, so stay on routes and designated trails there, preferably with a local guide.