Hi everybody,
I%26#39;m planning a 3 week trip from February 23. until March 23. to Sri Lanka with my girlfriend. It%26#39;s our first time so please excuse all the stupid questions.
I read some chilling articles in the last days on the internet and a little researched resulted in serious doubts about going to Lanka. It seems the current offensive of the government troups against the LTTE will result in even more terroris attacks. Of course we don%26#39;t plan to go to the east or north but still there have been a lot of attacks e.g. in the area of Colombo in 2008. The US State Department even put a warning on their website:
';Since early January 2008, fighting between the Sri Lankan military, paramilitary groups and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) has increased, and bomb explosions in densely populated areas have killed dozens of civilians, including in some areas frequented by foreign tourists. Although there is no specific indication that American citizens or institutions have been targeted, there is a heightened risk of American citizens becoming victims of violence just by being in the wrong place at the wrong time.';
I%26#39;m aware that this war is going on for about 25 years already, but still I%26#39;m worried.
So here are my questions:
* Is it generally a bad idea to go to Lanka right now?
* Has the situation got worse in the last weeks? Any info from people just returned or still there?
* Whats the best way to travel (we would like to avoid trains and busses)?
* We mainly plan a Palms/Sun/Beach holiday, where are good and safe places to go to?
* What are the DOs and DONTs in Lanka to stay safe?
* Any other tips, hints, helpfull advices?
Thank you so much!
Cheers, Ole from Berlin
Security Concerns / Civil War / Terrorism
Hi Ole,
Had 2 calls from Lankans today and returned one month ago, so should be up-to-date enough! There we go...
* Is it generally a bad idea to go to Lanka right now?
No, the opposite. As safe as ever as long as you stay outside the war zones!
* Has the situation got worse in the last weeks? Any info from people just returned or still there?
No not at all. Even slightly improved, now that most of the %26#39;separate country%26#39; in the north has been conquered also the possibilities for large-scale bomb production will lessen. So at most the risks will come at Spanish ETA-level, not as it was in some earlier periods.
* Whats the best way to travel (we would like to avoid trains and busses)?
Car with driver. Also fastest.
* We mainly plan a Palms/Sun/Beach holiday, where are good and safe places to go to?
Basically all of the tourist coastal zone, from Marawila in northwest to Hambantota-Tangalle in southeast. Avoid Colombo town (different from airport); it%26#39;s not touristy and the government buildings and convoys carry some risks for all bystanders.
* What are the DOs and DONTs in Lanka to stay safe?
DON%26#39;T spend time in Colombo, and upto a far lesser extent all public transport.
* Any other tips, hints, helpfull advices?
As for safety, for the rest nothing special. Same risks as any other poor country.
All the best,
%26lt;Erik%26gt; %26amp; [Sandya]
Thank you so much!
Security Concerns / Civil War / Terrorism
Thanks very much, Erik! I really appreciate your fast and straight-forward answer!
You said spending time in Colombo is a Don%26#39;t. We%26#39;ll arrive with Qatar Airways at 4:30 pm in Colombo, so I guess we%26#39;ll leave the airport around 5pm - no time for a trip to the south. What%26#39;s a good option to stay for the night and how do we get there? I heard Negombo is not so far and beautiful.
I%26#39;m sill interested in the opinion of some other people. Anyone has time to post some info for me and other people asking the same question?
Thanks everybody!
Hi again Ole,
Yep Waikkal/Negombo is the most obvious place for the first night. Or even airport hotels like Taj Airport Garden and Ramada Airport, the first one has kind of beach (on the lagoon).
All the best,
%26lt;Erik%26gt; %26amp; [Sandya]
Hi,
I%26#39;ll be someone else.
I agree with everything that Erik has said. I%26#39;m flying to Lanka on Thursday morning and will be travelling around most of the island.
And,, I%26#39;ll be travelling on public transport, buses and trains.
I do advocate train travel but must admit the buses are not for most people. Not because of the danger but because they are usually very crowded with half the passengers standing up.
Being a regular visitor, I know the island pretty well and have no safety concerns whatsoever.
One point that you made.
You%26#39;d heard that Negombo is beautiful.
I like Negombo and every trip spend some time there but I wouldn%26#39;t call it beautiful.
It%26#39;s a big, bustling, Sri Lankan town. Parts of it smelly and dirty but all the time, very interesting.
Ideal for a first night before travelling further afield.
Lots of hotels and guest houses to suit any budget.
Rod.
Hi Ole,
I agree with Erik.
I have visited Sri Lanka 43 times over the last 30 years and returned from a 10 weeks stay in Sri Lanka 12 days ago. I%26#39;m going back there in 6 weeks.
There has been very few terrorist attacks (suicide bombers) since May-June 2008. The most recent were on 28 December in Wattala in northern Colombo targeting a Civil Defence Forces camp and 2 January targeting the old headquarters of the Sri Lankan Air Force in Colombo.
The best (and easiest) way to travel is hiring an AC car/van with driver. For shorter trips tuk tuks are a good (and cheaper) solution. There is a slight risk going by train or bus, but avoid them as they are usually overcrowded.
All Sri Lanka is pretty safe except areas in the north and east.
Some governments advise against visiting Yala National Park and the areas around it. Recent report says the area is safe (I was there last April), but it can be a matter whether your insurance will cover visiting there.
DO
- comply with government and security force instructions
- carry some form of official identification (passport or photocopy) with you at all times.
DON%26#39;t
spend unnecessary time in Colombo City
stay near government buildings (army camps, police stations etc.) or large gatherings.
Negombo is a good place to stay the first night (20 minutes from the airport). There are plenty of both star class hotels and simple guesthouses.
The best beaches are south of Colombo - from around Beruwala and all the way to Hambantota.
Hans
I forgot the link to the German government%26#39;s travel advice for Sri Lanka:
auswaertiges-amt.de/diplo/de/Laenderinformat鈥?/a>
Hans
@ Erik: Thanks again!
@ Rod: Thanks for the second opinion. I just love travellers! Always helpful, always caring for each other! So as I understood you Negombo is a practical solution for the first night - but is there any nice place we could reach within 1-2 hours for the first night? Or should we go for Negombo?
@ Hans: Thanks for your reply too! Wow, 43 times, this place must have enthralled you! Of course I had a look at the German Office of Foreign Affair%26#39;s website first, but as a reference I chose the english text, because most people won%26#39;t understand German. They basically say it%26#39;s ok to go to Lanka, as long as you stay south of the A12 and west of the A2 and north of the A4.
Thanks also for the tip about the beaches. I will buy a guide book soon (any tips?) And we will stay away from crowds and anything interesting for terrorists.
One more question for our budget planning. We%26#39;re on a tight budget, around 10-15 EUR a day (1500-2200 Rupees) per day and person. Is that realistic? A little extra for traveling is ok. And how much is a car with driver say from Negombo to Beruwala for the two of us (by the rule of thumb)?
Thanks for your help!
Cheers,
Ole
Hi again,
EUR 10-15/day a day is tight even for Sri Lanka. You will get closer to LKR 140 for EUR 1 than LKR 150.
In Beruwala-Bentota you will not find many guesthouses for less than LKR 4000/night for a double room with breakfast, so it will not leave much for food, drinks etc.
You can have a meal for less than LKR 100 at the small restaurants called ';hotel';, but that%26#39;s only rice and curry. Tourist meals will cost you about LKR 500-600/pp for lunch and LKR 800-1200/pp for dinner
On a real tight budget you should consider going to Narigama (south end of Hikkaduwa or Unawatuna. These places you can have a double room with breakfast for less than LKR 200/night.
Negombo to Beruwala is around 90 km. For a one-way trip you will typically pay about LKR 60-70/km, so calculate LKR 5500-6000 for the trip.
Hans
Hi Ole,
With a tight budget I%26#39;d certainly recommend that you stay in Negombo 1st night, then get the tran from Negombo in the morning.
Changing at Colombo Fort, for Hikkaduwa.
A decent plae to stay in Negombo.
The Silver Sands,
229 Lewis Place,
Negombo.
Tel; +94-(0)-31-2222880... www.silversands.go2lk.com
A good guest house, good food and rooms. very friendly an helpful.
Owners name is Francis.
Fronts onto Lewis Place , although set back a bit from the road. Plenty of small bars, restaurants and shops around.
Rear opens out onto the beach but not a very good beach.OK for a stroll to check out the fishing fleet of catamarans and maybe join the local lads in a game of volleyball but not for swimming.
In the morning get a tuk tuk to the station. or walk , it takes about 30 to 40 minutes.
Trains for Colombo leave Negombo at,
07;18
07;50
10;40
11;40
12;25
13;50
Can%26#39;t remember for sure and most of my info is packed ready to leave in the morning for lanka bu I seem to remember the train at 10;40 doesn%26#39;t leave you too long to wait for the Hikkaduwa train in Colombo.
Rod.
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