Sri Lanka Tourist Police

The Sri Lanka Tourist Police is a dedicated division of the Sri Lanka Police, established specifically to protect and assist international visitors throughout the country. Whether you need directions, want to report a theft, or face an unexpected emergency, Tourist Police officers are trained to help — and many speak English and other languages to bridge communication gaps.

What does the Sri Lanka Tourist Police do?

The division's responsibilities go well beyond basic law enforcement. Officers actively work to prevent common issues that affect visitors: opportunistic scams, overcharging by informal vendors, petty theft, and unsolicited harassment. They also educate travellers about local laws and customs so that cultural misunderstandings don't escalate into avoidable problems.

• Assisting tourists who are lost, injured, or in distress
• Receiving and investigating complaints from foreign visitors
• Providing guidance on local laws, customs, and safe areas
• Coordinating with transport, health, and immigration authorities when needed
• Patrolling high-traffic tourist zones and key archaeological sites

Where are Tourist Police officers stationed?

Officers are deployed at the locations most frequented by international visitors. You will typically find Tourist Police posts or roving officers at:

• Bandaranaike International Airport (Colombo) — the first point of contact for arriving tourists
• Colombo — particularly along Galle Road and the Fort and Pettah areas
• Kandy — near the Temple of the Tooth and the Kandy Tourist Information Center
• Galle — inside and around the UNESCO-listed Dutch Fort
• Ella — serving the popular hill-country backpacker hub
• Arugam Bay — during the surf season on the east coast
• Major national parks, cultural sites, and beach resorts island-wide

How do I contact the Sri Lanka Tourist Police?

The main Tourist Police headquarters is located in Colombo. The details below are drawn from official Sri Lanka Police communications and are the numbers tourists should save before or immediately upon arrival.

Save these numbers on your phone before you travel. Mobile coverage is generally reliable in tourist areas, but connectivity can be patchy in remote hill-country zones and certain national parks.

What should I do in an emergency as a tourist in Sri Lanka?

For life-threatening emergencies, dial 119 (Police) or 110 (Emergency hotline) from any Sri Lankan phone. For tourist-specific issues — a scam, a stolen passport, a dispute with a vendor — contact the Tourist Police directly using the numbers in the table above. They are equipped to liaise with embassies and consulates on your behalf if documents need to be replaced.

If you are travelling with a licensed Lakpura driver-guide, your guide will also know the nearest Tourist Police post and can assist you with translation and escalation.

Assistance during natural disasters and severe weather

Sri Lanka's weather can shift rapidly, particularly during the southwest monsoon (May–September) and the northeast monsoon (October–January). The Sri Lanka Police has formally committed to providing immediate support to stranded foreign nationals during weather-related disruptions — including help reaching Bandaranaike International Airport if transport routes are affected.

During declared disaster situations, tourists are advised to contact the designated officers listed above (Director and OIC contacts) rather than waiting at their accommodation. The Tourist Police coordinates with the Disaster Management Centre to relay safe routes and evacuation information.

Tips for staying safe as a tourist in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is generally considered a safe destination for international travellers, but a few practical precautions will make your trip smoother.

1. Use registered taxis and transport. Ride-hailing apps and Lakpura-arranged taxis and private drivers are metered or fixed-price and remove the risk of fare disputes.
2. Keep copies of your documents. Photograph your passport, visa, and travel insurance and store them in cloud storage or email them to yourself.
3. Be cautious around unofficial 'guides'. At sites like Sigiriya and Dambulla, unlicensed touts sometimes pose as official guides. Licensed guides carry a Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) card.
4. Respect dress codes at religious sites. Covered shoulders and knees are required at most temples and shrines. Failure to comply can result in refusal of entry and, occasionally, altercations.
5. Declare valuables at customs. High-value electronics, camera equipment, and drones should be declared on arrival to avoid complications on departure.
6. Know your embassy contact. Most embassies maintain a 24-hour emergency line for nationals abroad. Store this alongside Tourist Police numbers.

Can the Tourist Police help with lost property?

Yes. If you lose a passport, wallet, or other belongings, report the loss to the nearest Tourist Police post as soon as possible. Officers will issue a police report — typically required by your embassy for emergency travel documents and by travel insurers for claims. The more detail you can provide (location, time, description of items), the more effective the response will be.

Language support and accessibility

Tourist Police officers in major centres are selected partly for their language ability. English is widely spoken within the division; French, German, and other European languages may be available depending on the posting. If you need assistance in a language the officer does not speak, they can contact headquarters to arrange a phone interpreter. The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority also maintains a tourist helpline (1912) that can facilitate communication.