"Serendipity" Top 5 Page for this destination Sri Lanka by Maxus

Sri Lanka Travel Guide: 4,227 reviews and 8,014 photos

Buddhism and Cricket are both taken very seriously

Sri Lanka

I have been to lots of places in the world but nowhere has left as deep an impression on me than Sri Lanka and the last 10 years I have either just back from a visit or preparing for my next one. I have never fully understood my obsession with the place, it is a beautiful island with its fair share of historical sites but I have always preferred to spend my time ‘village side’ with real people rather than looking at ruins in the Cultural Triangle.

Being an island, Sri Lankan history and culture is a little less blurred around the edges than some countries, it’s more distinct and somehow more ‘fathomable’' for an outsider who likes to know what makes things tick but if you are interested in finding out more about Sinhalese society and culture you need to get away from the main tourist areas or the famous 'cultural triangle'.

Sri Lanka has changed a lot in recent years and not all the changes have been positive. When I first came here people who didn’t rely on tourists for a living would politely ignore you, those who did need your money would use their easy charm to separate you from it. Well that’s pretty much as it is now but much of the politeness and charm has gone, there seems to be an attitude that being polite to foreigners is somehow demeaning, tourists are there to be fleeced and if they don’t like it they shouldn’t come.

Increasingly I meet people in VT whose experience of Sri Lanka has been less than magical, the tips below are designed to help you get out and about with a minimum of hassle.

Where to go and how to get there.........

Lifes a beach

My ramblings on Sri Lankan life and culture are on my home page, below are links to some tips for travellers heading to Sri Lanka, I hope you find at least some of them useful.

If you are visiting this page because you are considering a trip to Sri Lanka – all I can say is do it and do it now because it’s changing fast

Below there are links to a series of honest travel tips some of which you may find useful

If you have any comments or questions please don't hesitate to get in touch.

Warnings and Dangers

Let me guess............. Rice and Curry?

: News Agencies are reporting around 25,000 cases of Dengue Fever so far this year resulting in at least 245 deaths, the number in the whole of last year was 1,456 with 85 deaths and with around 7,000 new cases reported in July alone, there is no doubt that the current outbreak is serious and tourists should be concerned.

From what I can gather, the worst places to be are Kandy, Kegalle, Colombo, Gampaha and Kurunegala.

There’s no preventative medicine all you can do is try not to get bitten and if you get flu-like symptoms go to see a doctor ASAP (don’t take aspirin, the last thing you need with Dengue is a bleeding stomach). As ever good medical insurance is vital.

The Sri Lankan army now have control of the territory formally held by the ‘Tamil Tigers’ who were most or less wiped out in a dramatic and bloody last stand.

However there is currently political unrest and travellers should keep updated with events"

The future is anyone’s guess.

Pros and Cons

Pros:Where do I start?
Cons:It's changing fast (and not always for the better)
In a nutshell:There is still some magic left in the world

Last visit to Sri Lanka: Jan 2010
Intro Updated Feb 12, 2010
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Reviews (94)

Cricket Crazy Sports & Outdoors (1)

Sri Lankans are mad on cricket and as you can see they start very early indeed, it's not just a fanatical support for... more travel advice

A ‘local’ train on the Puttalam line - Sri Lanka

An easy (and cheap) day out. Transportation (14)

A car and driver is generally the quickest and easiest way to get around in Sri Lanka but for the more adventurous you... more travel advice

Off Sales Nightlife (4)

What bars there are outside the tourist resorts tend to be exclusively male affairs and can be a little grim, however... more travel advice

Who Lives Where? Local Customs (14)

You can hazard a guess at who lives in a village by the livestock you see around the place, if it’s just chickens it’s... more travel advice

Warnings Or Dangers (16)
See All Boys will be boys - girls should be...
Off The Beaten Path (9)
See All Safety First
Restaurants (2)
See All Probably the Best Place to Eat in Tissa
Shopping (4)
See All Buying Gems
Tourist Traps (5)
See All Smoking

Things to Do (5)
See All Wewurukannala Temple
Favorites (8)
See All Buffalo Curd: First Aid for a Dodgy...
Hotels (8)
See All Basic Beachside Hotel
What to Pack (4)
See All Getting Around
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Travelogues (4)

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Comments (60)

ettiewyn May 19, 2012 at 1:08 AM Report Abuse

Hi Mark, wow, this is certainly one of the best VT pages I have ever read! Just loved your tips, so useful and full of insight - I learnt so much!
JessH Apr 1, 2012 at 1:03 AM Report Abuse

Hi Mark. Am heading to Sri Lanka for a few days beg. of May. Thank you for sharing your great insights, especially the Local Customs. I really enjoyed reading your page / Jessica
anitpotter Mar 9, 2010 at 8:06 AM Report Abuse

sounds like you have a sim?send a text every 3/6mths to keep active.put reminder in fone to text to keep it active. itll tell you how long its valid for after youve sent it. that way every time you go back you have your own sim ready to roll.
georeiser Jan 24, 2010 at 4:16 AM Report Abuse

VERY GOOD on Warnings Or Dangers: Crime in Sri Lanka. Rate 5!
jumpingnorman Feb 17, 2009 at 10:38 AM Report Abuse

Hey Mark...revisiting your Sri-Lanka pages so it looks like I'm "there"...nice story about the stilt fisher and tipping at elephant farm...I'll stay away from "ganga"...How are you today? Norman
PierreZA Feb 4, 2009 at 10:23 AM Report Abuse

Mark, thank you for your reply on the Forum. This page on Sri Lanka is one of the best pages I read on VT. Great, practical tips which are really useful. Thanks!
erikute3534 Feb 3, 2009 at 8:37 PM Report Abuse

good job on SriLanka! sorry, pressed by mistake wrong buttons and rating was incorrect.. Thanks for all info!
axelebert Feb 2, 2009 at 2:27 PM Report Abuse

Hi, I assume Qatar Airways did not respond in a helpful way. I had similar experience and will avoid this airline in the future.
joiwatani Nov 17, 2008 at 6:45 PM Report Abuse

Great job on your Sri Lanka page. GAve you great ratings!
TravellingSpirit Aug 29, 2008 at 5:46 PM Report Abuse

It's strange how some places take hold of our hearts like this? Your love of the country is palpable in your writing about it.