Is Sri Lanka safe for digital nomads? It’s a question we hear a lot – and we asked it ourselves before heading there as well. Sri Lanka’s turbulent history over the past 10–20 years makes that concern totally understandable.

In our experience, Sri Lanka is generally a safe place to live and work remotely. However, it’s not quite as carefree as some other digital nomad hotspots like Bali. From traffic chaos to house robberies and street dogs. There are a few things worth knowing before you go – especially if you want to keep your adventures smooth and stress-free.

Below you’ll find safety tips and insights based on our experience living in Ahangama as digital nomads for three months.

Why We Think Sri Lanka is Safe for Digital Nomads

While there are definitely things you need to watch out for when traveling to Sri Lanka as a digital nomad, overall, it’s a safe country to visit. Here are three personal reasons why we genuinely felt secure during our time there:

1. Sri Lankan people are extremely friendly, open, and welcoming. They always smile back and are happy to have little chats with foreigners. Most of the population follows Buddhism, which promotes compassion and non-violence. It’s a strong foundation for a stable, fair, and supportive society.
2. During our 3-month stay in Ahangama, we didn’t have a single experience that made us feel unsafe. Okay, maybe except for driving with the crazy traffic. We lived in a local area outside of the tourist center, interacted daily with the local community, and surfed every day. All without any major issues.
3. We were incredibly lucky to become close friends with the Sri Lankan family who rented us our villa. They invited us to dinners and coffee, included us in their monastery visits, and we even helped them open a restaurant with their neighbors. We also spent Easter together. They supported us with everything from scooter troubles to handling police checks, and even helped install metal bars in the villa windows for added safety.

⚡️ Pro Tip: If you’re staying long-term, take time to connect with your hosts or neighbors. Building trust with locals can make a huge difference in how safe and supported you feel.

Staying Safe in Sri Lanka as a Digital Nomad

As mentioned above, we felt very safe in Ahangama. We didn’t experience anything seriously negative or threatening. However, we also actively took steps to stay safe, which I will share below. These small precautions definitely added a bit of extra effort to daily life. But looking back, it was totally worth it for the peace of mind.

Keep in mind that, despite Sri Lanka being a warm and welcoming country, its recent history has been turbulent. Many locals still face serious economic problems. The contrast between Western digital nomad lifestyles and the local cost of living is significant. It’s something that’s important to be mindful of when navigating day-to-day life.

Chaotic traffic

Traffic in Sri Lanka is intense and can be very dangerous. Roads are often narrow and lack sidewalks. Cars, buses, tuk-tuks, motorbikes, bicycles, and pedestrians all share the roads, creating hectic, unpredictable conditions. Drivers frequently overtake without warning and often ignore traffic rules. In rural areas, cows, dogs, or goats can suddenly cross the road, adding to the unpredictability.

⚡️ Pro Tip: If you’re renting a scooter, only do so if you’re confident on two wheels. Sri Lanka is definitely not a good place for your first scooter ride. Always wear a helmet, stay focused, and drive defensively.

Crazy bus drivers

One unique (and slightly terrifying) part of traffic in Sri Lanka is the bus drivers. Many drive fast, ignore all traffic rules, and overtake anyone and anywhere – even if it means driving on the opposite lane. Each time I spotted a bus in my rearview mirror or heard that aggressive horn, I felt genuinely scared. You eventually get used to it, but sometimes it’s safer to pull over and let buses pass. We were extremely cautious around buses, especially after hearing that just a few weeks before we arrived, two tourists were killed in a motorcycle-bus accident in Weligama.

Want some visual examples? Check out these videos: Crazy buses in Sri Lanka and How to be a Bus Driver in Sri Lanka (Meme).

House robberies

We heard about several house robberies in expat groups on social media. Some even happened in our neighborhood in Ahangama just before we arrived. Our hosts heard about them as well and decided to install metal bars on all windows before our arrival. They also advised us to leave lights on in the garden at night so it’s easier to spot any strangers.

⚡️ Pro Tip: We always kept our laptops locked in one room whenever we were out – just to be safe.

Isolated areas at night

It’s generally smart to avoid isolated areas after dark, especially on beaches. Without lighting or people around, these spots can be risky for theft or harassment. We only went on evening beach walks if the area was well-lit or familiar to us.

Storage under the scooter seat

If you’re heading out for a surf, think twice before leaving your phone or wallet in your scooter seat. We found out (thanks to local advice) that many scooter storage compartments can be opened with any key – not just the one for your own bike. We tested it, and yep – I could open Fabian’s, and he could open mine.

⚡️ Pro Tip: Bring a dry bag for the scooter key + money, and leave all other valuables at home when you go into the water.

Terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka

While rare, it’s worth mentioning a notable event from 2019. On Easter Sunday (April 21), multiple coordinated terrorist attacks targeted churches and hotels in Colombo, Batticaloa, and Negombo. Over 250 people were killed. A local Islamist extremist group, reportedly linked to ISIS, carried out the attacks.

When we visited a Catholic church in Galle for Easter with our Sri Lankan friends, 20–30 heavily armed soldiers stood guard outside the building, which was quite shocking. We still chose to attend, but you can imagine how tense it felt when there was a sudden power cut during the mass…

Staying Safe Around Animals in Sri Lanka

One of the things that makes Sri Lanka so special is its incredible wildlife – from majestic elephants to the ever-present street dogs. As a digital nomad or traveler, you’re likely to come across both wild and domesticated animals, especially if you’re staying outside the big cities or near nature.

Most encounters are harmless and even magical. However, there are a few important safety things to keep in mind, like avoiding trouble with street dogs, and staying smart around monkeys. Here are a few tips for staying safe around animals in Sri Lanka.

Street dogs

There are an estimated 1–3 million street dogs in Sri Lanka. While most are harmless and just doing their thing, we did have a few tense moments. Once a pack got aggressive near a beach at night. Another time a dog chased our scooter and tried to bite my leg.

During your stay, you’ll likely see many dogs in poor condition – malnourished, injured, or needing medical care. If you’re experienced with dogs and feel confident helping, that’s amazing. However, it’s important to remember that Sri Lanka still reports occasional cases of rabies. That’s why, in most cases, it’s safer to keep interactions with street dogs to a minimum – even if you spot a super sweet puppy.

I know it’s really hard, especially when you see a dog that clearly needs help. But rabies can be transmitted even through a small scratch, and it’s a very serious (and often deadly) disease.

☀️ Tip: I’m a big dog person, so after seeing so many street dogs in really bad shape, I wrote an article: What To Do When You Find a Stray Dog or Cat While Travelling?. If it’s hard for you to ignore a suffering animal but you’re unsure what to do, you might find it helpful. 🙂

Elephants

Elephants can sometimes cross roads at night, especially near national parks or rural areas. Drive carefully if you’re heading through those zones after dark! To give you a better idea of what situations can be expected, here’s a fascinating reel from National Geographic about an elephant that learned to block roads for food.

Crocodiles

Crocodiles are mostly found in rivers and lagoons, especially in the southern and eastern regions. In places like Arugam Bay and Weligama, they’ve even been spotted in the ocean – including near some popular surf spots close to river mouths. However, they rarely go into the sea, and there are no reported cases of crocodile attacks on surfers in the ocean.

Snakes

Sri Lanka is home to several venomous snakes, including cobras and vipers. You’re more likely to encounter them while hiking or in rural areas, but one of our friends in Ahangama actually discovered a snake living under their house! On the other side, we did a 4 day trekking on the Pekoe trail through super remote, overgrown and wild areas and didn’t see a single snake.

Monkeys

Monkeys are common in forested areas and some cities. While fun to watch, they can get aggressive – especially if they feel threatened or there’s food involved. Avoid feeding them, as it can lead to unwanted attention or defensive behaviour, and some may also carry rabies.

Travelling as a Woman

Sri Lanka is considered relatively safe for solo female travellers – especially in comparison to India. Back in 2016, when we arrived to Sri Lanka after two intense weeks in India, I felt super relieved. The overall environment felt much more relaxed and safe. However, it’s still not quite as easygoing as destinations like Thailand or Bali. As always, it depends to what you compare. 🤷‍♀️

Western women may still face unwanted attention or uncomfortable situations, as local communities aren’t used to seeing female travellers dressed in a Western style. For example, many Western women sunbathe in bikinis, but Sri Lankan women cover most of their bodies for sun protection and cultural reasons. For some Sri Lankan men, a woman in a bikini can feel unfamiliar and may provoke unwanted reactions.

That’s why it’s a good idea to follow a few common-sense guidelines when travelling as a woman in Sri Lanka:

• Dress modestly, and don’t wear a bikini anywhere outside of the beach
• Avoid secluded areas, especially remote beaches (even during the day)
• Use reputable transport apps like PickMe, Uber, or Bolt

⚡️ Useful tip: A sarong or oversized shirt might be useful when covering up between the beach and your tuk-tuk.

Unpleasant situations

To give you a better idea of what I mean by “unpleasant situations,” here are two personal incidents I experienced while backpacking in Sri Lanka back in 2016:

• Crowded buses: Overcrowded buses can unfortunately create opportunities for harassment. Once, while on a packed minibus, a man stood very close behind me and began rubbing his genitals against my body. At first, I didn’t realize what was happening – it was hard to tell in the crush of people – but once I figured it out, I pushed him away and he stopped. Sadly, this isn’t an isolated incident. I’ve heard similar stories from other women travelling in Sri Lanka.
• Remote beaches: It’s best to avoid sunbathing alone or wandering into secluded areas of the beach (e.g. corners with bushes). In one situation, a Sri Lankan man began masturbating while watching us from the bushes, even though I was with a friend and it was the middle of the day. Other women shared even worse stories – some were approached with offers of unwanted massages, while others were grabbed or kissed without consent.

How to react?

If you experience something similar, here’s what some locals advised us to do (only if you feel safe doing so):

• Shout and make the incident public: Drawing attention can scare off the offender and may stop the behavior immediately.
• Take photos: If it’s safe, document the incident. Sharing the images with your Sri Lankan host or even posting in local expat groups or social media circles can help identify the offender – especially in smaller towns where word travels fast and many people know each other.

⚡️ Useful Tip: Talk to your guesthouse host or a trusted local if something happens – they can offer support or even accompany you to report it if needed.

Staying Healthy in Sri Lanka: Practical Advice

Vaccinations & Illnesses

• Make sure your routine vaccinations are up to date before traveling. You can find additional vaccines recommended for Sri Lanka online, but it’s always best to check with your doctor or a travel clinic.

⚡️ Our experience: We visited a tropical disease hospital that has a dedicated travel department to ensure we were covered by top experts. Since we planned to stay in Sri Lanka for a longer period, we also chose to get the Japanese Encephalitis vaccine, in addition to the usual ones.

• Be aware of mosquito-borne illnesses like Dengue Fever or, more rarely, Japanese Encephalitis – especially during the rainy season. When we stayed in the south of Sri Lanka, there were a lot of mosquitoes (even though it was dry season), so we took extra precautions: we used spray with 50% DEET in the evenings, installed mosquito nets in the windows, and always slept under a net.

⚡️ Our experience: There was one night when our AC stopped working, and we had to sleep with the window open – the next morning, we woke up with 20–30 mosquitoes in the bedroom. We were super happy that we had the mosquito net.

Food & Water

• Eating safely in Sri Lanka was easy for us – most meals were freshly cooked after ordering. We regularly ate at local restaurants, street stalls, and even at our Sri Lankan friends’ homes without any issues. The food is delicious, so don’t miss out! If you are planning to stay in Ahangama, check out this post: Best Restaurants in Ahangama – Local Favourites and Secret Spots You’ll Love.
• Avoid drinking tap water – stick to bottled or filtered water. To reduce plastic waste, we arranged for our neighbors to deliver large refillable water bottles weekly. You only need a small electric pump to dispense the water easily. You can also ask your host or a local shop if they can help organize this.
• Be careful with ice in drinks unless you’re sure the restaurant uses filtered water – it’s always okay to ask.

Why Travel Insurance is a Must

If there’s one thing you shouldn’t travel without, it’s proper health and travel insurance – especially as a digital nomad. Solid insurance coverage can make all the difference if you have a scooter accident, catch a tropical illness, or lose your gear.

I’ve been using True Traveller for years and can honestly recommend them. Their site is super clear (finally, no confusing fine print), and the policies are made with adventurous travelers and digital nomads in mind. On top of very comprehensive health insurance, they offer the flexibility to start your insurance after you’ve already left home, plus extra protection for your laptop and gear – all the things that actually matter when you’re living and working abroad.

Digital Safety for Digital Nomads

As a digital nomad, your laptop isn’t just a tool – it’s your office, your bank, and your connection to the world. That’s why digital safety needs to be a priority while traveling. Hacking, data theft, or losing access to your files can be just as disruptive as any real-world issue. The good news is that staying digitally secure doesn’t take much effort – and it can save you a lot of stress down the line. Here are a few easy habits I recommend for working safely while abroad:

• Always use a VPN when connecting to public Wi-Fi in cafés, hostels, or coworking spaces – these networks can be vulnerable.
• Avoid accessing sensitive accounts (like online banking) on open networks.
• Back up your files regularly, just in case your device is lost or stolen. You can easily set up automatic syncing with cloud services like iCloud, Google Drive, or OneDrive.
• Consider getting a local SIM card with data. I personally preferred connecting my laptop to a phone hotspot over random Wi-Fi networks.

Final thoughts: Is Sri Lanka Safe for Digital Nomads?

So, is Sri Lanka safe for digital nomads? In our experience – yes, with a few caveats. Like any country, it comes with its own set of challenges, but with some awareness, respect for local culture, and a bit of common sense, it can be a fantastic place to live and work remotely. We felt welcomed, inspired, and grateful for the experience – and we will definitely go back to visit our Sri Lankan friends.

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☀️ FAQ about safety in Sri Lanka

Still have questions about staying safe in Sri Lanka as a digital nomad? Drop them in the comments or reach out – happy to share more!