5 Weird Sri Lankan Laws Every Tourist Must Know

The legal system in Sri Lanka is a combination of colonial, Victorian, English and Dutch legislations all mixed together in a medley of complicated regulations and customs that feel like laws. In terms of tourism, local laws do not usually apply to visitors, unless they are laws that pertain to the safety of the community. There is a blurry difference between a law and a custom, whereas both can be enforced by the police and could have serious consequences, and a law might be completely disregarded for a foreigner.

* Taking photographs in religious places and government institutions

The political and socioeconomic majority of Sri Lanka is Buddhist. The customs for entering a Buddhist temple respectfully include entering without shoes, dressing conservatively, not pointing feet at the Buddha figures, not getting too close to the monks or touching them (especially their heads) and being respectful of the worshippers. It is expected of visitors to follow all of these rules, yet there is one custom/law that can get you in real trouble. Some Buddhist temples and all government institutions do not allow photographs taken of the premises.

* Religious freedom

Sri Lanka has a law that permits their entire population to practice their own religion. The majority religion is Buddhism but there are plenty of Hindus, Muslims and Christians. Even though there are some individuals who don’t believe in religious freedom and tend to create violent situations, that is not the norm and the government is trying very hard to impose religious freedom to quell violence between religious groups.

* Homosexuality is illegal

Just as Sri Lanka has a religious freedom law, it also has a law which states that ‘carnal intercourse against the order of nature’ is illegal. This is an old Victorian law that doesn’t exactly state that homosexuality is illegal, but it is used to impose the illegality of same-sex relations. LGBTQ travellers coming to Sri Lanka need to be aware of this to not be harassed or even arrested.

* It’s illegal to carry drugs

Getting caught carrying illegal drugs can get you into real trouble. Pretty much all drugs are illegal in Sri Lanka, including marijuana. There are always police raids on the roads at night, checking and searching tuk tuks and cars. Having narcotics such as opioids, heroin and cocaine is a highly dangerous practice. Depending on the amount of drugs found on a person – and if it can be proved that there was dealing involved – the result could be a life sentence in a Sri Lankan jail.

* Topless sunbathing

For the ladies who like to sunbathe topless, Sri Lanka is not the kind of place to get the even tan. Nudity and indecent exposure is a grave offence in Sri Lanka and all you will get by going topless is trouble. Topless men are okay on the beach, pool and ironically, in some Hindu temples. Ladies, best cover up while not in the water or at the pool of your hotel.