Is Sri Lanka Safe for Women?
Safety rating
Women living in Sri Lanka consider the safety level to be moderate, with an overall safety rating of 3.2 out of 5.
Crime rating
Women living in Sri Lanka consider the crime rate to be relatively low, with an overall crime rating of 1.8 out of 5.
Violence rating
On average 54% percentage of women in Sri Lanka have experienced physical and/or sexual violence from an intimate partner at some time in their life, according to OECD Data.
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Crime & Safety Statistics
Based on 9 experiences
Safety rating: | 3.2/5 | Moderate |
Safety walking alone after dark: | 1.9/5 | Unsafe |
Safety using public transport: | 2.7/5 | Moderate |
Crime rate: | 1.8/5 | Low |
Worries of being sexually harassed: | 2.2/5 | A bit worried |
Worries of being sexually assaulted or raped: | 1.5/5 | A bit worried |
Worries of being physically attacked: | 1.5/5 | A bit worried |
Worries of home broken and things stolen: | 1.2/5 | Not at all worried |
Worries of being mugged or robbed: | 1.2/5 | Not at all worried |
Worries of being kidnapped or murdered: | 1.2/5 | Not at all worried |
How safe is Sri Lanka?
Nimeshika
Weligama
It's usually safe. Bit tricky after dark since it isn't very crowded past around 9 pm. I don’t actually live in the town, so I can’t speak from experience about living there. The neighborhood I’m from is generally very safe, but it’s not touristy, so I’m not sure about what it’s like to live in a tourist-heavy area. That said, I’m in the town every day, and from what I’ve seen, it’s generally safe for a female solo traveler.
Posted: August 13, 2025
Devni
Unawatuna
It’s pretty chill if you’re not local. I’m local and so far I’ve not had any concerning experiences. Only heard things here and there. I wouldn’t worry too much if you’re a traveller. The locals usually leave them alone
Posted: July 27, 2025Colombo
Colombo is a beautiful and clean city . The residents are helpful and it feels safe to travel around. I had visited in 2023 with my sister and faced no problems. People were warm and welcoming. There were people wanting to be your guide in the tourist parts but, they were not aggressive.
Posted: June 27, 2025
Olga
Sri Lanka
In touristic places there pretty safe but when you move a bit far from the city center you can face some problems. Also it was an attempt of physical abuse of a friend of mine. Another friend of mine was robbed and police did literally nothing, even though it was some cameras at that place
Posted: June 21, 2025Colombo
Colombo is relatively safe, however, I personally don't feel comfortable enough to be out and about past 8 pm as it gets quite dark and there are not many street lights around. Locals are pretty friendly though.
Posted: June 14, 2025Is Sri Lanka worth visiting?
Travel rating
based on 40 experiences from female travelers
Galle, Group travel
I felt generally safe. I visited there with my girlfriends and we weren't disturbed or interrupted by any one. We mostly walked. The food inside the fort is bit more expensive but not too much. We didn't spend that much because we are students and we were on a tight budget but maybe around 3000 LKR for each? It was a one day trip so we didn't spend the night anywhere but our home. But I think there are many safe place around
Posted: August 13, 2025Experienced: April, 2025Safety in Sri Lanka
Frequently asked questions
Is Sri Lanka safe?
Is Sri Lanka safe to walk alone at night?
Is public transport safe in Sri Lanka?
What is the crime rate in Sri Lanka?
What is the risk of being sexually harassed in Sri Lanka?
What is the risk of being sexually assaulted or raped in Sri Lanka?
What is the risk of being physically attacked in Sri Lanka?
What is the risk of burglary in Sri Lanka?
What is the risk of being mugged or robbed in Sri Lanka?
What is the risk of being kidnapped or murdered in Sri Lanka?
