No restrictions for tourists during lockdown in Sri Lanka
The rules of the nationwide lockdown in Sri Lanka do not seem to apply to tourists.
Since the beginning of our trip to Sri Lanka, there is a nationwide, hard lockdown, which is accompanied by curfews, closed stores, restaurants and rules of conduct. So far, we have adhered to all these rules, have not made any excursions and went at most times to the beach — after we had seen that there are also often locals.
We were firmly convinced that the restrictions of the lockdown as well as the curfew applied to us as well as to everyone else. The lockdown was now extended further and further, so we could not explore our first month in Sri Lanka anything yet. I have then again and again on Instagram or also TikTok searched for hashtags such as #travelsrilanka #srilankatravel or similar and then wondered more often why there are so many current videos, stories or even posts from Sri Lanka, in which tourists obviously travel the country. From safaris to open cafes and sometimes beach bars to hikes to waterfalls and famous sights, there was something of everything.
As a result, I wrote to these same travelers and asked what their secret was. Whether they are currently in Sri Lanka and how they can travel the country. The answer was always the same: Of course you can travel Sri Lanka. But this statement is completely in line with what we heard. Already at the airport, the driver told us that we could only change accommodation during the lockdown. Also our hosts, including an air force officer and his wife told us that traveling was forbidden. Even for tourists! To be on the safe side once again, we had even called the foreign office and asked. There, too, we were told that the lockdown restrictions apply to both locals and tourists.
Tourists can travel Sri Lanka despite the lockdown!
Most of the travelers I contacted were mainly in the east of Sri Lanka, in Trincomalee. There are currently some bars, restaurants and also stores open. You can surf, go on a safari tour with a guide or even go whale and dolphin watching. Two travel guides were recommended to me, which I then also immediately contacted via Whatsapp.
Since I have discovered on the Internet from time to time a page on which it says that tourists are not affected by the restrictions, but unfortunately it was never an official page, I wanted to ask the guides again what the current rules are. And especially where they got this information from. The stories of the other travelers and also their indignation that we were told that we were not allowed to travel strongly suggest that the information is not completely far-fetched.
A guide, Ajeeth, answered my message within a few minutes and also called me directly to better answer all my questions. In very good English — which is anything but a given here — Ajeeth explained to me that the lockdown rules do not apply to tourists. The government has defined tourism as an essential source of income for the country and therefore tourists are allowed to travel around the country even during a lockdown.
The requirements to travel as a tourist are similar to those for entry. One must be fully vaccinated — have the vaccination certificate with them at all times — have spent one night in a certified Level 1 Safe & Secure Hotel and have received a negative PCR test result there. The document confirming this negative test must be carried at all times, as well as the passport and vaccination card. If you are checked by the military or others, which is rare, these documents are sufficient to continue your trip without any problems.
The best destinations in September
In addition, Ajeeth gave me some tips which places and regions we should visit in Sri Lanka at the moment. I already knew that there are months here in which monsoon rains are particularly frequent. However, I was not aware that there are seasons in which it is best to travel only the east or only the south. The travel guide explained to me that in September in the west of Sri Lanka — that is, near Colombo, where we are currently located — you can actually do nothing. The few excursion destinations that exist here anyway only, are currently closed and also the beaches are often not particularly inviting due to the monsoons. Also restaurants have opened independently of the lockdown in this season only sporadically.
The east of Sri Lanka, Trincomalee or Arumgam Bay, is the best destination in September. There are some beaches that just invite you to surf. In addition, there is a lot to discover there. From safaris to whale watching or visiting inviting beach bars and restaurants. He recommends that we travel there first and then continue to explore the country from there. It’s not until November that the season starts here in the west and until then there is more than enough time to explore the interior as well as the south and north.
If we want to travel to the south first, Ajeeth recommends Galle, more precisely Unawatuna or Mirissa. There are some very nice accommodations right by the sea and also a lot to explore. More precise tips on what to see in the south of Sri Lanka, he wanted to give us when we have concrete plans.
In the interior of Sri Lanka, especially Ella and Kandy are popular destinations. There are besides impressive mountains, diverse nature and many waterfalls there also some national parks where you can observe different animals. Elephants, leopards, crocodiles, birds and much more invite you to explore there. The famous train from Ella to Kandy is unfortunately not running at the moment due to the lockdown, but should be available again daily after the termination.
In the north of Sri Lanka there are probably some temples and especially many cultural, religious destinations. However, there is currently also no high season, which is why Ajeeth advises us to travel there only in a few weeks.
Our further travel planning
After we learned that we can travel as tourists despite the lockdown, we wanted to visit the Beddagama Wetland Park near Colombo last Sunday. There are a lot of footbridges from which you can observe the nature, the ponds and lakes as well as countless birds and insects. In addition, these footbridges are excellent for taking photos in nature. Unfortunately, we found that not only the bridge to the entrance was destroyed, but the park itself is unfortunately closed. But at least we made a little excursion — the first since we arrived in Sri Lanka.
Since there is not much more to discover in the vicinity, and at the moment it is not the season, we will move next Friday. We are going to the Surfdeck Resort in Panadure, about 30 minutes south of Mount Lavinia. Already a few weeks ago I was contacted in Instagram by a local who offered that we can stay one night including half board for free in his Surfdeck Resort if we take a few photos there in return. With such an invitation, you can hardly say no, which is why we accept it with thanks on the weekend. To have more time there, we will book a second night there. https://surfdeckresort.com/
Afterwards, it goes for us then further to the south, in the southern province of Galle, more precisely to Unawatuna. There we have already booked via AirBnB a small apartment directly in the bay between Galle Fort and Unawatuna. We will have a small terrace with direct sea view and can get directly to the sea in just a few meters. So far we have booked one week there, always with the option of an extension.
Afterwards we want to travel a bit further south, to Mirissa. There we were already recommended the Mamma Mia Hotel, which I had previously discovered on AirBnB. These are small cottages directly on the beach with a balcony and a — as it seems — beautiful view. The owner, Ingrid Hettihewa, is, according to the guide Ajeeth, a very kind and helpful hostess who is very committed to making her guests feel comfortable.
We are still thinking about whether we should travel from Mirissa to the east of Sri Lanka, to Trincomalee or Arumgam Bay, or travel to the interior of the country to Ella and then Kandy. But since we still have more than enough time and the plans can change constantly, we don’t want to plan so far ahead.
I am very happy that after almost a month in lockdown now our journey begins and we can discover Sri Lanka. At least as far as it is possible through Corona. In order to have enough time to travel, a visa extension was necessary. We applied online for a visa extension and if it is approved — which we can probably assume — we can stay in Sri Lanka until the end of November. And even then it would be possible to extend the visas again for 3 months until the end of January.
