I'm planning a trip to some dive sites on the East coast of Sri Lanka next month. I'll have to travel by train or car from Colombo to the East coast. Does anyone know if there's any likelyhood of targetting tourists on route?
I'm also planning to do some voluntary work in Karachi later in the year for 1 month. Is there a likelikood of targetting westerners in the city or on route from India by train?
Would love to hear anyone's experiences on either...
Reply to this Hi,
Even though there were problems for last 25 years or more but tourists have never been a target for them.
Nishantha
Reply to this Hi ,
I do not intend to sound anti-pakistan...but current situation in NORTH WESTERN AREAS bordering AFghanistan are highly unstable......Pakistan has many islamist groups who do not see favourably to women folks ...But I have heard the punjabi dominated areas like Islamabad ..Lahore are better than rest of the country.
regards,
Vaibhav
Reply to this Sri Lanka is not safe
Despite the end of civil war, military checkpoints are all over the place. You risk being get caught in cross fire. Besides, the government now has evidence to believe banned journalists and foreign government agents pretend as tourists to enter the country. Therefore, there is a high level of suspicion on foreigners. Journalists, human rights activists and foreign government agents are particularly interested in the East Cost regions and Northern region of Sri Lanka. Unless you are interested in a government sponsored tour or event you may want to avoid Sri Lanka at this time.
Sooriyajeevan
Reply to this I certainly won't be going over in the near future...even if there looks to be peace it's not going to be overnight...
Reply to this I haven't got to Pakistan yet...I was going to go last january, but with all the commotion with the Mumbai attacks being linked to Pakistani militants etc...I decided not to risk it...I'm thinking to give it another go this coming January if it's all calmed down...we'll see. I'm back in the UK at the moment saving my pennies til then...what are your plans Mell?
Reply to this I am off to Brazil and Uruguay in November, Felix. I have a list of 'want to go tos' for next year, but I have to wait until after Christmas before I buy the flight tickets. I wish I could just buy the tickets now, because more and more keeps going on the list and deciding is getting harder and harder. And everytime I think I have decided, somebody here on TravelBlog will start talking about a great destination and that gets added to my list too.
I just read a blog by somebody who just travelled through Pakistan with Oz bus. They had a lot of armed guards with them all the time. She was also in Iran during the riots. From the blog she wrote it seems like it was a scary experience.
Here is a link to her profile page.
Turkishdelight
Reply to this Sri Lanka - strictly danger zone
1. Check US travel warnning, June 2009
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_3011.html
http://srilanka.usembassy.gov/warden_information.html
2. 170 people died for deadly Dengu Fever in a month (July, 2009 - including travellers)
3. SL is worst place for election violances in the world. Elections months are comming up in SL. Better be aware of them.
4. There is no saftey law's in Sri Lanka for tourist. Even a valid insurance would give you nothing as per Sri Lankan law.
Reply to this I have travelled to Sri Lanka recently (including India/Maldives/Indonesia). Once I landed in Sri Lanka, I really felt why Sri Lanka was a tourist place...
It was one of the worst places I have seen as a tourist. Allmost all the hotels and tour operators are lieng as much as possible. Everybody want to make some money out of it. For me, it is not a relaxing place. Most of the time I spent to safeguard me instead of enjoying tourism.
Never Again in my Life Time !!!
Reply to this Returned from Sri Lanka three weeks ago. Had a restful time. Avoided the North and East - even though the guns have been silenced in that part (after 30 years), I thought it best to stay away on this trip. Had a great time on the beaches. Mount Lavinia beach (West) has great restuarants. Must confess that I spent a bit to make sure I got the best - avoid the cheap deals - its well worth it. Plan on going back in a few months to have another go at the lobster and perhaps take a trip to Trincomalee (East) - things shouda died down even further by then and the seas would be calmer (avoid the Monsoon season?). Good luck!
Reply to this
In response to: Msg #79530
Sooriyajeevan - username
avoid misleading infomation from this guy. he is spreading bad lies about sri lanka for confirmation anybody can check this his posts (Sooriyajeevan) in every traval forum replies.
Reply to this
In response to: Msg #79792
K samaranayake - username
avoid misleading infomation from this guy. he is spreading bad lies about sri lanka for confirmation anybody can check this his posts (Sooriyajeevan) in every traval forum replies.
Reply to this
Hello roarfunky
Don't post just to call others liars, without any information of your own to prove it.
An administrator is going to lock your account now, as the first and only post you have made seems to only have the purpose of starting an arguement.
Feel free to get another account, if you intend to post something more useful.
Mel
TravelBlog Moderator
Reply to this In response to: Msg #37638
Sri Lanka is one of the most beautiful Islands you just have to witness. It has great culture, the most amazing beaches and also great night life.
<snip>
[Edited: 2014 Apr 09 01:07 - Roosta:95057 - No commercial links in the forums, please. See TOS]
Reply to this Both of Country always seems as homewar, there laws and police are never truestable. for tourist I don't think about Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
Reply to this 
