What is healthcare in Sri Lanka like?

Facilities and Health Information

There are six large hospitals in the Colombo area, including three facilities with emergency trauma service: Asiri Surgical Hospital, Lanka Hospital, and the government-run National Hospital. Medical facilities outside Colombo are limited. The U.S. Embassy maintains a list of private physicians that may be obtained upon request. The availability of medical supplies is uneven; as a result, travelers should carry any special medications with them. Serious medical conditions do require evacuation to the United States or to a nearby country with more advanced medical facilities, such as Thailand or Singapore. Neither Thailand nor Singapore requires U.S. citizens to have entry visas.

Several mosquito-borne diseases, including dengue fever, chikungunya, and Japanese encephalitis are present in Sri Lanka. Adequate mosquito protection is strongly advised.

Drinking Water Source - % of rural population improved

92.9%

Drinking Water Source - % of total population unimproved

6.2%

Drinking Water Source - % of urban population improved

99.1%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.07%

Hospital Bed Density - beds/1,000 population

3.1

People Living with HIV/AIDS

2,800

Physicians Density - physicians/1,000 population

.49

Sanitation Facility Access - % of total population unimproved

7.7%

Sanitation Facility Access - % of urban population improved

82.9%

Sanitation Facility Access - % of rural population improved

93.9%

Infectious Diseases - degree of risk

high

Animal Contact Disease (s)

rabies

Food or Waterborne Disease (s)

bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A

Vectorborne Disease (s)

dengue fever

Water contact disease (s)

leptospirosis

Disability Access In Sri Lanka

Accessibility

While in Sri Lanka, individuals with disabilities may find accessibility and accommodation very different from what you find in the United States. The Sri Lankan Supreme Court has directed that steps be taken to provide easy access for persons with disabilities to public buildings. Although there are regulations on accessibility in place, in practice accommodation for access to buildings is rare and movement on sidewalks, streets, and other thoroughfares can be very difficult. The road network in Sri Lanka is improving, but many roads are still in medium to poor condition, and sidewalks and road crossings in most major towns are congested with vendors, stray dogs, and groups of people loitering on street corners. Potholes, sidewalks in poor repair, and lack of wheelchair access in most buildings limit access and movement for people with disabilities.

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