Destination Risk Register

Sri Lanka is a constitutional, multiparty democratic republic. The government is freely elected. Domestic observers described the last election as peaceful, technically well managed, and safe considering the COVID-19 pandemic but noted that unregulated campaign spending, abuse of state resources, and media bias affected the level playing field. The government took minimal steps to identify, investigate, prosecute, and punish officials who committed human rights abuses or corruption, and there was impunity for both.

The overall score indicates that serious violations of human rights happen in this country. Compliance with human rights standards cannot be assumed. High caution should be exercised. Relevant risks for the tourism sector are, e.g.:

• Restrictions on workers' freedom of association
• Lack of investigation of and accountability for gender-based violence
• Trafficking in persons
• Threats of violence against members of national, racial, and ethnic minority groups as well as against LGBTQI+ persons