|
Health and Security FAQ (Frequently asked questions) |
| |
| 1 |
What health risks will I face in coming to Sri Lanka? |
| 2 |
What health facilities are available? |
| 3 |
Am I at risk from the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka? |
| 4 |
Is it dangerous to travel to Eastern Sri Lanka? |
| |
| |
| 1 |
What health risks will I face in coming to Sri Lanka? |
| | The health risks are very low. In some parts of the country, and in some seasons, malaria-carrying mosquitos are present. Standard malaria treatments (available in pharmacies worldwide, and also here) guard against this risk, and actual cases of malaria are very rare.
In recent years a few cases of dengue fever have occured in the Colombo area, though none on our (eastern) side of the island. Dengue fever is also spread my mosquitos, so basic precautions against insect bite should be taken.
Otherwise, health here is very good - life expectancy rates compare very favourably with those in Europe. Standards of hygeine are also generally high, though of course you should excercise caution, as you would in any hot country, when drinking water or eating foods rinsed in water which may not have been treated against possible infection. When staying at the Stardust, please drink the cooled and filtered water which we provide, rather than the tap water! |
| |
| |
Back to questions |
| |
| |
| 2 |
What health facilities are available? |
| | Almost every village has a dispensary, usually staffed by one or more doctors trained to western standards. Important drugs and medicines are fairly readily obtainable everywhere. In Pottuvil we have a hospital and four very competent doctors. Private treatment is available at very moderate rates
There is also a pharmacy, which will supply you with treatments for common ailments, antibiotics etc., though if you have requirements for specialised drugs it is probably wisest to bring them with you. (This doesn't, of course, include illegal drugs like heroin, cocaine, cannabis etc. - penalties for importation of these drugs are potentially very severe. In any case, you won't need drugs to cheer you up in a beautiful place like this!) |
| |
| |
Back to questions |
| |
| |
| 3 |
Am I at risk from the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka? |
| | No overseas visitor has ever been at a direct risk from the conflict - no group in this country has ever targetted or wished to harm visitors of any nationality - this is actually a territorial conflict with no religious and limited ethnic dimensions. Of course, where bombs have been exploded in the large cities everyone present was at risk, though in fact the victims of these attacks (most signifcantly in Colombo as recently as 2000 and in Kandy the previous year) the victims have been Sri Lankans of every ethnicity and religion.
You may be surprised to find, in a country which the outside world has sometimes regarded as 'riven' by ethnic conflict, that almost nobody you will meet here wishes to have any part in such a conflict. Almost everywhere the various ethnic and religious groups here in fact live amicably side by side. You will be struck by the general sense of peace and calm, and the kindness and friendliness which all of the groupings will show to you and each other. |
| |
| |
Back to questions |
| |
| |
| 4 |
Is it dangerous to travel to Eastern Sri Lanka? |
| | The troubles are usually reported as taking place in the "North and East" of the country.
Even in Colombo & all over the West Coast people may tell you it is risky to come to this area. On closer questioning you will find they are very sketchy about this part of the country and have probably never been here.
In fact the last time the ethnic conflict touched us here in Arugam Bay and Pottuvil was in 1992.
Since then the only effect of the conflict in this area has been the lower numbers of visitors.
False rumours of dangers do a lot of harm to our local economy which needs visitors to thrive - so please come, call us or write to us. We are always ready to answer questions about the situation.
However we have many happy visitors from all parts of the world particularly surfers, who are not prepared to miss some of the best surfing in the world. The coin always has two sides & the conflict caused the side effect, that we can still offer a truly 'unspoilt' paradise!
Travelling in this part of the country you will pass several Special Task Forces checkpoints. They are keeping the areas under control. Perhaps they look very serious, but remember visitors from abroad are always welcome everywhere. |
| |
| |
Back to questions |
| |
| | |
