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General information

Time difference
+ 4,5 hours ahead of CET
+ 3,5 hours ahead of CEST

Currency
1 Sri Lankan rupee is equal to 100 cents. Notes are available in the denominations 2000 Rs, 1000 Rs, 500 Rs, 200 Rs, 100 Rs, 50 Rs, 20 Rs, 10 Rs coins are available as 10 Rs, 5 Rs, 2 Rs, 1 Rs, 50 cents and 25 cents. 5 Rs, 2 Rs and 1 Rs bank notes, as well as 1 cent, 2 cent, 5 cent and 10 cent coins are very rarely used anymore.
All bank notes and coins issued at any time in Sri Lanka remain valid. Don't be surprised if you receive an unfamiliar bank note with your change.

Electricity
The voltage in Sri Lanka is 230 V / 50 Hz. As a rule, the electrical sockets are three-point sockets with the contacts in a triangular shape. The standard Euro plugs on most small appliances can be used in these sockets if you stick a plastic ballpoint pen in the middle (earth) contact.

Forms
All official forms must be in three languages: Sinhala, Tamil and English. Never sign anything that you do not understand.

Admittance charges
Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Sigiriya: US $15 each; Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy: US $2; Mihintale: 300 Rs; Dambulla: 500 Rs. These prices include permission to film and take photographs, with the exception of the Temple of the Tooth Relic, where filming and photographing costs extra.
A collective ticket for Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya and a number of other places of interest is cheaper than buying individual tickets to all these places; a collective ticket will cost approx. US $40.

Arriving in Sri Lanka

To enter Sri Lanka you will need a valid passport; the expiry date of your passport must exceed the duration of your stay on the island by at least six months. You must also have sufficient funds for your stay in Sri Lanka and a return ticket or ticket to a third country.
Before entering Sri Lanka you must fill in an "Immigration Card". Some airlines distribute these cards in the aircraft; however, the cards are also available inside the airport. We recommend that you take a second card with you: you will need it at departure or if you have to extend your visa.

As a citizen of the European Community, you will be granted a 30-day visa on entry. Exceeding this visa by up to five days is tolerated. If you want to stay longer you will have to extend your visa within this 30 day period. Obtaining a visa extension of up to six months is no problem, provided you have a return ticket or a ticket to a destination outside Sri Lanka and you have sufficient financial resources. Retain your currency exchange receipts, as you will have to present them if you extend your visa.

Valuable gifts for Sri Lankans and goods intended for sale in Sri Lanka must be declared to customs upon entry. You may have to pay customs duty and tax for these goods.

Your duty free allowance upon entering Sri Lanka is two bottles of wine or sparkling wine; 1.5 litres of spirits. The duty free allowance for cigarettes, cigars and tobacco was cancelled in 2006. The tax for 200 cigarettes is about US $20.

Importing weapons - including knives, ammunition and explosives, all types of drugs, all kinds of pornographic and/or seditious literature is strictly prohibited.
Under Sir Lankan law, importing and exporting drugs and drug trafficking is punishable by death.

What you can take out of the country

You can take up to three kilos of tea out of the country duty-free; anything above this must be declared and is liable for duty. However, the duty is only a few rupees per kilo. The maximum quantity you can take with you is six kilos.
You can take any quantity of jewellery and gems; you may, however, be asked to prove that you exchanged sufficient foreign currency to make these purchases. Please ensure that you keep all currency exchange receipts, credit card slips and purchase receipts. If you bring any valuable jewellery which has come or could potentially have come from Sri Lanka into the country when you arrive then remember to declare this upon arrival in order to avoid any problems when you leave the country.
Antiques that are older than 100 years require an export permit. Bear in mind that you will not be granted an export permit for items of historic significance, e.g. palm leaf books.

What you cannot take out of the country

Animals and plants or parts of thereof that are subject to the "Endangered Species Act", and particularly turtles or tortoise-shell and ivory.
Additionally Sri Lanka prohibits the export of any kind of corals and sea fauna, e. g. sea snails. You will probably be offered large sea snails as souvenirs, and although the seller will tell you otherwise, these animals are killed specifically for the souvenir trade. Even attempting to export corals and sea fauna is punishable by a penalty of up to US$ 1,000.

You can take a maximum of 1000 Sri Lankan rupees out of the country. Unless you want to take the bills home as souvenirs, it makes no sense to keep them, even if you do intend to visit Sri Lanka again in the foreseeable future: the Sri Lankan rupee devalues against the US dollar by between 15 %and 25 % every year. Any excess rupees you may have can be exchanged back into US dollars or Euros after your check-in at the airport without great loss..

The best time to travel

The best time for a travel to Sri Lanka's southwest coast is from mid-November to mid-April. Right up into January you can expect fierce, but short, rain and thunderstorms in the evening and during the night.

Over the next few months the temperature rises gradually by approx. 10°C and reaches a maximum of about 38°C beginning of April. In Hikkaduwa the sun is straight overhead on 8. April, and the monsoon rainfalls slowly start. The period from mid-May to the end of June is slightly unpleasant and you can expect to have to endure heavy rainfall for days on end. We do not recommend visiting the west- or south-coast during this period.

The weather calms down a bit as from the beginning of July. Expect daily showers - chiefly in the evening and at night - but the temperatures will go down to a relatively cool and pleasant 24° to 27° C, but with high humidity. You'll get accustomed to the humidity fairly quickly. These weather conditions remain stable almost up to November, apart from a minor monsoon from mid-September to mid-October.

Clothing

Wear what you would usually wear during the summer in Europe. You'll need a light jumper or jacket if you are intending to visit the highlands, where it can get slightly chilly at night. You will also need a jumper and jacket from April to November as the winds can get high in these months.

If you intend to climb Adam's Peak, you will need a thick sweater and a windproof jacket. On the summit of the Adam's Peak the morning temperature drops by between 5° and 10° C and there is no way of escaping the wind.

To visit temples and religious sites you will need clothing which covers your knees and shoulders. You will not be permitted to enter these sites with shoes. We recommend wearing socks to protect your feet from the heat of the ground and stone slabs within the sites. You may feel slightly silly, but it's better to look silly than suffer burned feet ...

Nudist beaches

Although the pictures of bare-breasted women in Sigiriya and the many statues in the temples may give you a different impression, do not be misled! Sri Lanka as a country is extraordinarily prim and prudish. Sexuality is never mentioned and kissing in public or any other sign affection is simply taboo.
Topless sunbathing and swimming is prohibited in all of Sri Lanka. While the police will generally stop short of taking action, they will usually request the offenders to cover up. However, there have been cases of arrests where the woman in question has spent a few hours at the local police station - topless, of course.
If the threat of the police does not deter you from topless sunbathing then expect the "Beach Boys" to view you as easy prey. Don't be surprised if you are propositioned or gropend.

Health precautions

Drinking water
Tap water is not drinking water. Only in some parts of the country is there a central water supply with chlorinated water. Usually, the water supply comes from a local well. If you're not accustomed to this water you risk spending a considerable part of your holiday on the toilet.
However, you can buy "Table Water", a non-carbonised mineral water, all over the country. As an alternative you can also drink "Soda". The carbon dioxide in soda has an anti-bacterial effect, preserving the water for some time after the bottle has been opened. If you do not intend to consume the water within half a day, it may be advisable to buy soda instead of table water.

Food and beverages
In the tourist areas the hotels and restaurants are adjusted to European tastes. If you want spicy dishes you will have to order them specifically or go to one of the local "Rotti Shops".
Ice cubes in drinks do not present a health risk. The ice is made from boiled water or table water. Off the beaten tourist paths, however, we recommend that you avoid ice cubes.

Sunburn
Even in December the sun in Sri Lanka is higher in the sky than in central Europe in midsummer; and at the beginning of April it is straight overhead. Without any form of protection against the sun, your skin will burn and start to blister within 30 minutes in the noontime sun. Even when the skies are overcast, you risk painful sunburn after only a short exposure. We recommend that you use a sun cream with UV factor of 16 to 24 at the beginning of your holiday. Should you still get sunburn, a sunblocker will come in useful.

Mosquitoes
If you stick to the southwest coast, which is not one of the main malaria areas, I may be worth considering whether it is entirely necessary to take anti-malaria drugs, since these drugs can have some very unpleasant side-effects. There are other ways of protecting yourself, e.g. an anti-mosquito cream or rub, mosquito nets and mosquito coils which burn at night and keep the pests at bay.
The entire east coast, Kandy and northwards up to Anuradhapura are malaria areas. If you intend to stay in these areas you must ensure that you have adequate protection against mosquitoes. If you are staying in Sri Lanka for longer then you should always have an emergency packet of a drug like "Malarone" with you to take if you suspect that you might have been infected. Please speak to your physician about this before you travel.

Hepatitis A and B
The risk of a hepatitis infection is often underestimated. There is a strong risk of infection if you are travelling to the centre of the island where hygienic conditions leave a lot to be desired. Please speak to your physician about this before you travel.

Salmonella
This infection is not life-threatening but it is very, very unpleasant. You can get salmonella everywhere, even in the best hotels. The main sources are deep-frozen poultry and all kinds of shellfish - from small prawns through to lobster. A typhus vaccination is recommended as prophylaxis; this consists of three capsules which are swallowed and only very rarely have side-effects. After vaccination, if you do become infected the worst symptoms are generally over in 6 to 7 hours. If you have not been vaccinated and you pick up an infection then be prepared to spend a week in bed with antibiotics.

Rabies
In Sri Lanka more than 1,000 people die of rabies each year, although the government has a stringent anti-rabies campaign (which consists of capturing of stray dogs and vaccinating pet dogs at no cost).
If you have been bitten by a dog and are not 100 percent certain that the dog does not have rabies then seek medical treatment immediately.

Spiders, Snakes, etc.
None of the spiders native to Sri Lanka are dangerous. If you are bitten by a spider the worst you have to fear is a painful, red bite.

Scorpion stings are not life-threatening for adults and the discomfort disappears after a few hours. Children are more at risk; if a child is bitten by scorpion you should seek urgent medical attention.

The bite of the "Caruda" is not dangerous but it is highly unpleasant: these 10 - 50 cm, skin-coloured to reddish-brown centipedes will give you a bite that is very painful; it will swell up and will remain painfully tender for quite some time.

There are four types of venomous snakes in Sri Lanka whose bite can be fatal: cobra, krait and two types of viper. The bites of all other "poisonous" snakes will result in severe reactions around the bitten spot and in some cases possibly circulatory instability and partial paralysis, but these reactions will disappear again after a few hours. However, it is highly unlikely that you will encounter a snake during your visit.
If you do happen to meet one then avoid fast movements, never hit at it with a stick or throw a stone at it and give the snake space to retreat.
If you have been bitten then contact a doctor as fast as possible. Do not attempt to suck the poison out with your mouth; this simply moves the venom to your mouth where it is absorbed through the mucous membranes. Try to move as little as possible, apply a tourniquet to the bitten limb and drink as much water as possible to stabilize the circulatory system.

Hospitals
All state-owned hospitals will also treat foreigners. Treatment, apart from the medicines, is free, so you should make a donation after you have been treated. These donations are generally used to buy medicine for patients who would not otherwise be able to afford it.
There are also private hospitals in most cities and larger towns.

Currents and rip-tides

Undertow currents are frequent along the entire coast in the Hikkaduwa region during the main season from November to April. If possible, you should never go swimming alone. If you do end up in one of these currents you should immediately attempt to attract attention by waving. Don't try to swim against the current; instead, try to swim sideways out of the current - these currents are rarely wider than a four-lane motorway.
Due to the monsoon winds and rough seas, you can swim in protected bays from mid-April to mid-November. Don't even think about swimming at Hikkaduwa beach - it would be suicide!

EC cards, credit cards, Travellers cheques

Travellers cheques can be cashed at all banks and currency exchange points; many hotels will also cash them for you. However, the exchange rates offered by the hotels are generally not very good.

You can also obtain cash in most banks upon presentation of a valid VISA credit card. MasterCard is only accepted by some banks, e.g. Hatton National Bank. American Express is taken by even fewer banks. As a rule, all three cards are accepted in the larger hotels, at jewellers' stores and in the shopping arcades of Colombo and Kandy. Remember that if you pay by credit card the vendor should not be charging you a fee for this service.

Most tourist centres and all the larger towns and cities now have ATMs where you can withdraw cash with an EC card (with the Maestro symbol) or a MasterCard. The fee charged per transaction is approx. € 3,00.

Making phone calls

Many mobile phone companies have roaming partners in Sri Lanka*, which also support sending and receiving text messages. However, the mobile phone network does not yet have full coverage. As a rule, reception is good in the coastal region between Negombo and Matara, in Nuwara Eliya, Kandy, Dambulla, Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura. Roaming fees range from 3.50 euros to 6.00 euros, depending on the time of day. Please note that you will be charged a hefty fee for all incoming calls.
(*pay-as-you-go cards cannot be used.)

Many mobile phone companies and networks in Sri Lanka have clued up and now offer pre-paid cards which can be used in European mobile phones. This approach is a lot cheaper than using roaming partners.

Public transport

The railway network links all Sri Lanka's cities and larger towns. Travelling by train is reasonably comfortable and fast. Express trains travel at an average speed of 40 km/h; this drops to 20 km/h in the hills. Travel time from Hikkaduwa to Colombo with the express train is around 2 1/2 hours. The morning and evening commuter trains are always full

Rail services link the following towns:
     south-west caost: Matara - Galle - Kalutara - Colombo,
     west coast: Colombo - Negombo - Chillaw - Puttalam,
     highlands: Colombo - Kandy - Badulla,
     east coast: Colombo - Kurunegala - Polonnaruwa - Batticaloa
                 and Colombo - Kurunegala - Trincomalee,
     in the north: Colombo - Kurunegala - Anuradhapura - Jaffna
     north-west: Anuradhapura - Mannar - Talaimannar.
Before you set off on a train journey to the north and east parts of the island you should enquire at the station whether the train will actually be going to its final destination and whether tourists are permitted to travel to these regions. It will depend on the current political and military situation which, as we all know, can change very rapidly. At present, trains terminate at the following stations: trains to Jaffna stop in Vavuniya; the service to Batticaloa officially ends in Batticaloa, but due to technical difficulties you may find yourself having to get out beforehand; the service to Talaimannar runs only sporadically because the ferry connection between Talaimannar and Rameswaram in India was stopped years ago.

Buses
In addition to the state-operated buses there are also numerous privately-run buses. In truth, Sri Lanka's transportation system would probably collapse without the private buses. The state-owned buses are either short distance local or long distance express buses. The private buses are often express buses, partly with air conditioning; the drivers are paid according to the kilometres they have driven. When overtaking, the drivers place their trust in Lord Buddha and hope that all oncoming traffic will swerve to avoid a crash.
Travel time from Hikkaduwa to Colombo is around 2 1/2 to 4 hours, depending on the time of day and the weather. In the rush hours the buses are always full and absolutely overcrowded. If you intend to travel long distances you should treat yourself to the comparative luxury of a bus with a guaranteed seat and air conditioning.

Cars with and without drivers, motorbikes
The sight of the disciplined chaos - for Sri Lankans it is disciplined chaos, for Europeans it is simply chaos - on the roads around Colombo and along the west coast will probably be enough to put you off wanting to drive in Sri Lanka. Quite apart from the traffic situation, hiring a car with a driver is less expensive than hiring one without a driver: the likelihood of the car hire company getting the vehicle back undamaged is simply greater with a driver.
While the traffic is less dense off the main roads and to the south of Galle, the condition of the roads is so bad that you are probably faster walking. If you absolutely insist on driving yourself we recommend that you hire a motorbike for getting around the country roads. But please note: as a rule these bikes are not accident insured - in the event of damage to the bike and other vehicles, you are liable for the costs. Check the bike to see that everything is in working order. Good brakes, lights and a horn could save your life.
Wherever you go, please remember to drive with the utmost caution. In the Hikkaduwa area alone several western motorcyclists are killed or seriously injured in accidents every yearn.
Officially you need an international driver's license to drive in Sri Lanka. Additionally, residents of countries which drive on the right hand side of the road must sit a test in Colombo to prove that they can drive of the left side of the road. In reality, very few policemen will recognise an international driver's license, so unofficially you should be able to get by with your national driver's license. If push comes to shove, you would probably get by with any document that has your name and a photo on it because few policemen will be able to read a foreign language.
Speed limits. Unless stated otherwise on road signs the speed limit is 40 km/h within Colombo; 50 km/h in towns and villages; 70 km/h in the country. There are speed cameras in Sri Lanka! If you are caught speeding you will have to pay a fine of between 500 rupees and 1000 rupees with a receipt; if you don't need a receipt it will be half that. Wearing a helmet is mandatory for motorcyclists and moped drivers; passengers are not required to wear one, but it is recommended. The fine for driving without a helmet is 500 rupees (half without a receipt).

If you are involved in accident - regardless of whether it was your fault or the other motorist's fault:

• Stop the next minibus and get it to take anyone who has been injured to the nearest hospital. Do not wait for an ambulance - you will just be wasting valuable time.
• If Sri Lankans have been injured then proceed as above but also go along yourself and take at least two relatives of the injured person and, if possible, a witness with you.
• Do not use the vehicle that was involved in the accident. This must remain exactly where it is until the police arrive. The vehicle will be impounded until the accident investigation has been completed.
• Get the minibus driver to drop you off at the nearest police station and take one of the injured person’s relatives and the witness with you. At the police station ask to see the SOP (Superintendent of Police), who as a rule will speak better English than the desk sergeants, and report the accident.
• If you live in the vicinity of where the accident happened, or are prepared to rent a room close by, then you will not be arrested, even if the accident was your fault. Your passport may be confiscated for the duration of the investigation.
• If your passport is confiscated then contact your embassy as quickly as possible.
• In many cases, particularly if the injuries are minor, the police or the injured party will propose to settle the matter with a cash payment. It is wise to accept such an offer (speak to your embassy) in order to avoid a court case which could drag on for months and at which your presence would be mandatory.

Bank holidays, national holidays

Saturday is a half-day, and no work is done on a Sunday.
All full moon days (Poya days) are Buddhist holidays; all places of entertainment are closed on these days and no alcohol is sold or served. However, in the tourist areas very few hotels and restaurants observe these holidays. If a hotel or restaurant refuses to serve you alcohol on a Poya day then please accept this out of respect for Buddhism.

"First contact" with Sri Lankans

1. What's your name?
   Conversation opener
   
   
2. Which country?
   Germans, Austrians and Japanese are viewed a cash-cows, unlike Italians, Australians and the British
   
   
3. First time Sri Lanka?
   First-time tourists are easiest to exploit.
   
   
4. How long you stay?
   Is this tourist worth the effort? How fast does the questioner have to be.
   
   
5. Are you married? - You have Boy-/Girlfriend?
   (The typical question asked by Beach Boys)
   If you respond with "No" as a woman then you are considered fair game. Even if you answer with "Yes" then you are fair game until you have a boyfriend or husband actually standing next to you.
   Men are asked this to find out whether they are gay or not.

1. What's your name?
   Tell them your name.
   
   
2. Which country?
   People will be able to tell by your accent whether English is your native language or not, so you might as well tell them where you come from.
   
   
3. First time Sri Lanka?
   Tell them that you were in Sri Lanka 5 or 10 years ago. Expect to be tested, but if you've read your travel guide properly, you should be able to answer most questions correctly. If you do get something wrong - well, ten years is a long time.
   
   
4. How long you stay?
   Tell them that you are staying two or three months. Long-stay tourists are always more careful with their money. Together with your answer to question no. 3, this will make you far less attractive for locals who are only after your money.
   
   
5. Are you married? - You have Boy-/Girlfriend?
   If you are a woman travelling alone and you are not interested in intimate relations with the locals then you should chose a travelling companion to you can present as your boyfriend. Alternatively, you could also say that you are lesbian.
   Things are easier for men: once you have politely made it clear - perhaps twice or three times - that you are not interested in the services proffered, you will generally be left in peace.

Beggars, Beach Boys, Bad Guys

Beggars
Be prepared to see beggars everywhere you go in Sri Lanka: in the train, at the station, at the bus station, on the road, walking from Colombo to Kataragama or anywhere else for that matter. Most will not be pushy and you can ignore them if you like. Most locals will give a few rupees or buy them a meal. War victims and the disabled get very little in the way of aid from the state: too little to live on, too much to die.

Professional beggars are a different matter altogether: despite their crutches they will be able to follow you pretty nimbly and will entreat you in fairly good English, telling you of their 10 starving children and dying wife. You'll see them day after day on the beach or at the station. Some of these beggars arrive every morning by train or bus, unpack their "gear" - filthy clothes or crutches - and start their "work". Many of them earn more through begging than the cook at your hotel.

Do not give begging children money! Once the children have learned that they can earn money this easily, they stop going to school. Even the school pens they beg off you are generally sold in the nearest shop. Schooling is free in Sri Lanka and all the necessary materials are also provided free of charge, meaning that no child needs to beg for a biro.

Beach Boys
To clear any misunderstandins out of the way right from the start: Beach Boys are not the youths who offer to organize round-trips or offer to show you the area without any more sinister intentions than that of earning a little money. These youths live off the commission they are paid if you book a tour through them or buy a piece of batik.

Beach boys are stylish young men between 18 and 25 who swagger bedecked in gold chains and who lead a very lavish lifestyle. Of course, they will also try to sell you a tour. However, they need to finance their lifestyle somehow, and you will probably find yourself paying three times the going rate if you go shopping with a beach boy. Their main aim, though, is to get young female tourists to sleep with them, and some beach boys brag about having sex with up to 50 women each season. Of course, these young women are taken for every penny they've got. Older women and male tourists can also use the services of a beach boy, but will generally be asked to pay cash.

In March 2007, the Ministry of Health stated that the number of people infected with HIV in Sri Lanka was 862 (in January 2001: 379). Around 80% of those infected live in the coastal region between Negombo and Galle. As new infections do not have to be registered, the actual figure is more likely to be between 8 and 10 times higher.

Bad Guys
There simply isn't enough space on this website to write down even a fraction of the tricks that some Sri Lankans will use to get money from naïve tourists. Here are some examples - we leave the rest to your imagination!

Old, but still very popular; this is the refined version: You're sitting on the beach, smoking a cigarette. A local walks past and starts up a conversation. During the course of the conversation he will offer you cigarettes, which usually cost 140 rupees, for half the price. He disappears and shortly after returns with two packs. Naturally, you are delighted to have made such a bargain. Same thing again next day. Then you don't see your friend for a few days. The next time you meet it will probably be you that mentions the cheap fags. This is where your friend tells you his problem: the cigarettes are stolen goods and the man who has them wants to get rid of them as fast as possible and is not selling single packs anymore. The minimum quantity is two cartons of 10 packs each. Unfortunately, your friend just doesn't have that much money just now, i.e. could you pay upfront? Now this is where you should start asking yourself if your friend' s friend doesn't trust him sufficiently to give him the cigarettes on credit, then why should you trust him? Congratulate yourself on having got four cut-price packs and having stung a swindler for a change.

"Hello, I'm the cook from your hotel. I am meant to be shopping, but I haven't got enough money with me. Could you lend me 500 rupees - the hotel will pay you back" Asking the man to verify what hotel you're staying in won't do you much good, because the swindler will probably have been watching you. You could just say that you haven't got enough money with you and get rid of him that way. But if you want to see him squirm for a bit, then why not suggest that you help him do the shopping and then return to the hotel together ;-)

Very popular in Galle, and recently spread to Hikkaduwa: you're strolling through town when you suddenly realize that you have acquired a companion. What starts off as small talk soon gets to the point: your companion has just visited his mother in hospital, bad operation, but she's recovering. However, the food in the local hospital just isn't good enough. What mum really needs to get her on her feet again are some vitamin tablets. Your companion will now assure you that he is not a beggar. Instead, he will ask you to buy the vitamin tablets. If you actually buy this poor man the tablets then you will have done a good deed, but to him and not his mum. Guess what happens the minute your back is turned? There are shops that sell the same packet of vitamin tablets over and over again ...

If you buy a coconut on the beach and pay with a 1000 rupee note, then don't be surprised if you never see the vendor or your change again. 1000 rupees will feed a family for quite some time.

Don't mistrust everyone you meet just because of these few examples: use your common sense and instincts. Just ask yourself what you would do in the same situation at home. Would you trust a complete stranger you had met only 3 days previously and give him 30 or 40 Euro to buy cigarettes for you?

Paedophilia

Paedophilia has become a great problem in Sri Lanka. Magazines that cater to these people praise Sri Lanka as a paradise for paedophiles, particularly Narigama and Tiranagama, the southern suburbs of Hikkaduwa. The government is doing its best to fight paedophilia, but their efforts are thwarted by the fact that paedophiles can usually buy themselves free with a few thousand rupees. In the meantime, most European countries have set up special task forces to combat paedophilic crimes abroad.

Ranmal Rest & Tourist Hotel does not tolerate paedophilic guests.
Anyone registering with Ranmal Rest & Tourist Hotel will have to present their passport, meaning that we have the details of all our guests. If we see evidence of paedophilic crimes being committed in our hotel or on our grounds, we will call the police immediately. We will also pass the perpetrator's details, all evidence and witness statements on to the police in the perpetrator's home country.

If you have any other questions about Ranmal Rest & Tourist Hotel or about Sri Lanka, simply get in touch with us. We will be very happy to answer any questions you might have.

Ranmal Rest & Tourist Hotel
Galle Road
Narigama / Hikkaduwa
Sri Lanka
Tel.: +94 91 - 22 75 474
ranmal-info@ranmal-rest.com