Sri Lanka Travel Insurance: What You Must Know Before You Go

Ravana Falls, em Ella. Ravana Falls, in Ella.
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2024-12-04

If you’re thinking of traveling to Sri Lanka and are looking for information on travel insurance, then you’re in the right place!

I recently visited this wonderful country, and I’m here to share what I believe is essential for anyone traveling there for the first time.

The country is incredible, no doubt about it, but I admit that I found myself wondering what I would do if I had a medical emergency, especially when I was in the remote places.

For example, Sinharaja Rain Forest, in Deniyaya, is a fabulous place, but the road to get there is winding and there are many leeches in the forest.

So many that The Rainforest Ecolodge – Sinharaja provides visitors with a spray to sprinkle on their shoes and repel the little animals.

So even if you think it’s always worth taking out good travel insurance, this is especially relevant on a trip to Sri Lanka.

The Rainforest Ecolodge - Sinharaja. Travel Coverage for Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka Adventure Insurance
The Rainforest Ecolodge – Sinharaja.
Sunset at The Rainforest Ecolodge - Sinharaja.
Sunset at The Rainforest Ecolodge – Sinharaja.

Is travel insurance mandatory to travel to Sri Lanka?

Although travel insurance is not mandatory for Sri Lanka, i.e. emigration services will not refuse you entry to the country if you don’t have it, it is recommended that you always travel with insurance.

And it’s not just my advice, as official travel guidelines often recommend that visitors take out insurance before traveling to Sri Lanka.

What’s more, at the moment there are insurances with very comprehensive cover and at affordable prices, so there’s no reason not to.

👉 Find out how much travel insurance costs for Sri Lanka and enjoy 5% discount when you buy through this link!

Welcome to Sri Lanka.
Welcome to Sri Lanka.
Riding a tuk-tuk in Sri Lanka.
Riding a tuk-tuk in Sri Lanka.
Pooja Ritual Sri Lanka.
Pooja Ritual, in Sri Lanka.

Why is travel insurance important?

When you take out travel insurance, you gain peace of mind and peace of mind because you have the guarantee that if anything goes wrong, you have someone to turn to and your expenses are covered.

After all, unforeseen circumstances can arise at any time, even in simple situations such as slipping or suffering from a foodborne illness that requires medical attention.

However, if you have reliable travel insurance, you’ll be prepared to deal with these situations without any additional stress.

Travel insurance for Sri Lanka. Local market on the road between Ella and Ratnapura.
Travel insurance for Sri Lanka. Local market on the road between Ella and Ratnapura.
Little Adams Peak.
Little Adams Peak.
Ravana Falls, in Ella.
Ravana Falls, in Ella.
A gem mine in Ratnapura.
A gem mine in Ratnapura.

What to do in the event of a medical emergency in Sri Lanka?

In case of a medical emergency, the first step is to contact your insurance provider.

Personally, since I always travel with IATI Travel Insurance, all I need to do is call the number provided in the policy.

Additionally, this insurance doesn’t require any upfront payment or deductible.

In other words, when you activate the insurance, you don’t need to pay anything upfront and then request reimbursement. There are also no extra excess fees when using the insurance.

IATI Travel Insurance also offers an app and a medical chat, both of which are very useful for quick inquiries.

👉 Find out how much IATI’s Backpacker travel insurance costs and get 5% discount when you buy through this link!

Waterfall in Sinharaja Rain Forest.
Waterfall in Sinharaja Rain Forest.
Dried fish for sale in Galle.
Dried fish for sale in Galle.
Macaca sinica, locally known as rilewa or rilawa.
Macaca sinica, locally known as rilewa or rilawa.

Tips for choosing the right travel insurance for Sri Lanka

When choosing your travel insurance, make sure the following points are included:

  • Comprehensive medical cover: Check the limit for medical expenses and choose an amount sufficient for serious emergencies.
  • Adventure activities cover: IATI’s Backpacker travel insurance includes 60 adventure sports and activities, with search and rescue cover, for example.
  • 24-hour service: Always choose insurance companies that offer assistance in your language, at any time.
  • Cancellation options: Guarantee a refund in the event of unforeseen circumstances before or during your trip.
  • Luggage cover: Check that the policy covers loss, theft or damage to luggage during the trip, guaranteeing reimbursement or replacement of essential items.
A herd of buffaloes invades a road in Sri Lanka.
A herd of buffaloes invades a road in Sri Lanka.
Galle Fort Lighthouse.
Galle Fort Lighthouse.
Mist appears unexpectedly in the rainforest of Sinharaja.
Mist appears unexpectedly in the rainforest of Sinharaja.

Which travel insurance for Sri Lanka do I recommend?

For a trip to Sri Lanka I recommend IATI’s Backpacker insurance, as it has medical cover of up to 300,000 euros and includes sports and adventure activities.

But it also includes important cover, such as bodily injury in motor vehicle accidents, delay in the delivery of checked luggage and finding, locating and sending lost luggage. And this last option was very useful to me (I’ll tell you all about it in a separate post).

In other words, having adequate travel insurance for Sri Lanka is like taking a life jacket with you. Ideally, you don’t have to use it, but if you have to, you can count on it to help you.

Finally, I can’t recommend enough that you read the details of the policy carefully before signing up and choose a reliable insurer, such as IATI Travel Insurance, so that you can enjoy your trip without any worries!

👉 Get travel insurance from IATI Seguros with a 5% discount!

Tuk-tuks in Galle, Sri Lanka.
Tuk-tuks in Galle, Sri Lanka.
Two monkeys stealing food near Ravana Falls.
Two monkeys stealing food near Ravana Falls.
Street market in Colombo.
Street market in Colombo.
Sithulpawwa Rock Temple. Crocodiles live in this lake.
Sithulpawwa Rock Temple. Crocodiles live in this lake.
Infinity pool at the Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams hotel (Colombo).
Infinity pool at the Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams hotel (Colombo).

*Disclaimer: This article reflects my personal experience with IATI Travel Insurance, the insurance I always use on my trips. For this trip to Sri Lanka, insurance was kindly provided by IATI.

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