People and Society of Sri Lanka

Nationality

Sri Lankan(s)

Ethnic Groups

Sinhalese 74%, Tamil 18%, Moor 7%, Burgher, Malay, and Vedda 1%

Population

22,156,000

Population in Major Urban Areas

COLOMBO (capital) 693,000; Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte (legislative capital) 126,000

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.

Life Expectancy at Birth

Life expectancy at birth in Sri Lanka stands at approximately 76 years overall, with women living to around 79 years and men to about 73 years. These figures place Sri Lanka among the highest-performing nations in South Asia for longevity, reflecting decades of sustained investment in public health infrastructure, education, and primary care services. Sri Lanka's relatively strong life expectancy outcomes are rooted in its long-standing commitment to free, universal healthcare. The country established a public health system in the mid-twentieth century that expanded access to maternal and child health services, immunization programs, and communicable disease control across both urban and rural areas. As a result, infant and child mortality rates declined sharply over the following decades, contributing significantly to improved average lifespans. The prevalence of non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer, has grown in recent years as the population ages and urbanization increases. These conditions now represent the leading causes of death, and the government has responded with national programs targeting screening, early detection, and lifestyle education. Road traffic accidents and mental health concerns are also recognized as emerging public health challenges that affect overall mortality trends. Sri Lanka's relatively high female life expectancy reflects strong rates of female literacy and educational attainment, which correlate closely with better health outcomes for women and their families. Access to prenatal care is widespread, and maternal mortality rates have fallen to among the lowest in the region. Rural populations, particularly in the Northern and Eastern provinces, have historically faced disparities in healthcare access partly due to the prolonged civil conflict that ended in 2009. Ongoing efforts to rehabilitate and expand health infrastructure in these areas have gradually narrowed the gap between regional life expectancy outcomes. However, the severe economic crisis that struck Sri Lanka in 2022 placed considerable strain on the public health system, disrupting the supply of essential medicines and medical equipment, which poses a longer-term risk to the health gains the country has achieved. Overall, Sri Lanka's life expectancy at birth serves as a marker of the country's broader social development, demonstrating that strong public health commitments can produce outcomes comparable to much wealthier nations, even as new economic and demographic pressures test the resilience of that system.

Infant Mortality Rate

Sri Lanka has achieved remarkably low infant mortality rates by South Asian standards, reflecting decades of investment in public health infrastructure, maternal care, and universal healthcare access. The country's infant mortality rate stands at approximately 6 to 7 deaths per 1,000 live births, a figure that places it among the best-performing nations in the broader Asia-Pacific region and far ahead of many of its regional neighbors. This achievement is especially notable given Sri Lanka's status as a lower-middle-income country. The government has long prioritized accessible healthcare through a network of public hospitals, maternity clinics, and trained midwives operating at the community level. Nearly all births in Sri Lanka take place in health facilities attended by skilled medical personnel, which dramatically reduces risks associated with complications during delivery. Immunization programs have played a central role in keeping infant mortality low. Coverage rates for vaccines targeting diseases such as measles, polio, diphtheria, and tuberculosis consistently exceed 90 percent nationwide, protecting newborns and young infants from conditions that remain leading causes of infant death in many developing countries. Breastfeeding promotion, oral rehydration therapy, and community-based nutrition programs have further contributed to infant survival. Sri Lanka's relatively high literacy rate among women, particularly in maternal health education, has also supported better newborn care practices at the household level. Despite these successes, disparities do exist between urban and rural areas, as well as among certain estate sector communities where access to healthcare services has historically lagged behind national averages. The government and international organizations have directed targeted programs toward these populations to help close the gap. Compared to the global average infant mortality rate of roughly 27 deaths per 1,000 live births, Sri Lanka's performance reflects a public health model that many development experts point to as a benchmark for low-income and lower-middle-income countries seeking to improve child survival outcomes.

Major Infectious Diseases

high

Literacy Definition

age 15 and over can read and write

• Buddhist70.0%
• Hindu15.0%
• Christian8.0%
• Muslim7.0%

Sinhala (official) 74%, Tamil (national language) 18%, other 8%. English is widely understood.

• Sinhala
• Sinhala
• Tamil

Crime Information

There is an elevated criminal threat in Sri Lanka. Most violent crime occurs within the local community. However, reports of violent crime, sexual assaults and harassment directed at foreigners have been increasing in recent months. Police response to assist victims can vary from a few minutes to hours, even in the tourist areas, and particularly in remote areas. In response to this rise in crime, the Sri Lankan government now requires that all foreign tourists provide their passport information to hotel staff when registering at local hotels and guest houses so that this data can be used by local law enforcement for the monitoring of foreign tourists. Organized and armed gangs are known to operate in Sri Lanka and have been responsible for targeted kidnappings and violence, although there is no evidence to suggest that U.S. citizens are at particular risk. A British national was killed and a Russian national sexually assaulted and beaten during a violent attack by a gang in a tourist resort in the southern beach town of Tangalle in December 2011. The Sri Lankan justice system can be slower than in the United States and there are a number of outstanding cases of crimes against foreign nationals. U.S. citizens are advised against travel on public buses in Sri Lanka, as passengers can be targets of criminal activity and bus drivers do not all obey driving regulations. Travelers, especially women, should consider travelling with other people when possible. Western women continue to report incidents of verbal and physical harassment by groups of men. Such harassment can occur anytime or anywhere, but most frequently has taken place in crowded areas such as marketplaces, train stations, buses, public streets and sporting events. The harassment ranges from sexually suggestive or lewd comments to physical advances, and sexual assaults have occurred as well. While most victims of sexual assault have been local residents, an upswing in sexual attacks against female visitors in tourist areas in the southern beaches underlines the fact that foreign women should exercise vigilance. Routine petty crime, especially thefts of personal property and pick-pocketing, is not uncommon if the traveler does not take appropriate safeguards. Cell phone theft is the most frequently reported crime against foreigners. Street hustlers or “touts” are common around hotels, shopping centers, and tourist sites. Credit card fraud is frequent and can happen in any establishment, or when paying online. Sri Lankan law enforcement personnel recently uncovered a foreign ring of criminals who were using “false fronts’” and “pen camera devices” to clone bank cards and steal personal identification numbers at ATM machines in Sri Lanka. Travelers should consider paying in cash whenever possible, and should carefully review billing statements to ensure that purchases displayed on their credit card statements are accurate. Consultation with personal credit card security advisors is encouraged for travelers to develop a protection plan that is best for your travel to Sri Lanka. Don’t buy counterfeit and pirated goods, even if they are widely available. Not only are the bootlegs illegal in the United States, if you purchase them you may also be breaking local law.

Criminal Penalties

While you are traveling in Sri Lanka, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen. Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different from our own. In places like military checkpoints, you may be taken in for questioning if you don’t have your passport with you. In some places, it is illegal to take pictures of certain buildings. There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit but still illegal in the United States, and you can be prosecuted under U.S. law if you buy pirated goods. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States. If you break local laws in Sri Lanka, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution. It’s very important to know what’s legal and what’s not where you are going. Persons violating Sri Lankan laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Penalties for possessing, using, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Sri Lanka are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. Under the Cultural Prosperity Act and the Antiques Ordinance, the unlicensed export of antiques from the country is considered a criminal act. While some countries will automatically notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate if a U.S. citizen is detained or arrested in a foreign country, that might not always be the case. To ensure that the United States is aware of your circumstances, request that the police and prison officials notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate as soon as you are arrested or detained overseas.