Travel insurance for Sri Lanka from £12.04^
Key takeaways
The average cost of travel insurance for Sri Lanka is £45.24
^ It can protect you if you have medical emergencies, trip cancellations, lost luggage, and more
You usually need extra cover for adventures like trekking, surfing, diving, and wildlife safaris
Do I need travel insurance for Sri Lanka?
Holiday insurance is not a legal requirement. But without it you will be personally responsible for paying all the costs if something goes wrong with your trip.
Travel insurance can financially protect you if your holiday to Sri Lanka is unexpectedly cancelled, you need medical treatment while travelling, or your valuables are lost or stolen.
According to the latest data from the Association of British Insurers:
British residents had to make 574,000
^ claims on their travel insurance in 2023The average claim amount was £972
^ and the average medical claim £1,750^ In contrast, you can find travel insurance to Sri Lanka from just £12.04
^
What type of travel insurance do I need for Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka is typically covered under worldwide travel insurance policies.
The specific type of policy you need depends on your travel plans:
One trip to Sri Lanka only
If you are only visiting Sri Lanka, choose single-trip travel insurance and select Sri Lanka as your destination.
One trip to Sri Lanka and other countries
Combining a holiday in Sri Lanka with visits to other countries, perhaps on a backpacking trip?
Single-trip travel insurance can cover multiple countries as long as:
• You don't head home in-between countries. For that you need multi-trip insurance.
• You are not away for a long time (policy dependent, but usually a month). For that you need backpackers’ insurance.
If you're heading outside Europe you will need to select worldwide cover.
Several holidays throughout the year
You might save money by selecting an annual multi-trip travel insurance policy.
Travelling with a medical condition
You can get travel insurance with a pre-existing medical condition, but it may be more expensive than a standard policy.
How much is travel insurance for Sri Lanka?
The table shows the average prices paid by our customers for holidays to Sri Lanka this year. Average price means 51% of customers paid this amount or less. Cheapest price means 10% of customers paid this price or less.
Cheapest price | Average price |
|---|---|
£12.04 | £45.24 |
Can I get last minute travel insurance for Sri Lanka?
Yes, it is possible to get last-minute travel insurance up to the day of your departure, although not all insurance providers will offer this.
Is it cheaper to buy travel insurance closer to my departure date?
No, it is usually more expensive to buy travel insurance last-minute.
If possible you should buy your holiday insurance as soon as you book your trip. That way you'll be covered if you have to cancel your Sri Lankan holiday.
What should my travel insurance policy for Sri Lanka include?
🚩Different travel insurance policies have different inclusions and exclusions. You should always read your documents and check what you're covered for.
Standard travel insurance will usually cover:
Illness and accidents
Trip and activity cancellations
Lost luggage (including your passport)
Theft
Repatriation (bringing you home if you are seriously injured, ill, or dead)
Personal liability (you are responsible for accidentally harming someone or their property)
What isn’t covered by travel insurance to Sri Lanka?
Typical exclusions include:
Undeclared pre-existing medical conditions
'Unforeseeable' disasters including terrorism, war, strikes, and natural disasters
Alcohol and drug-related incidents
Travel to areas advised against by the government (found on the FCDO website)
Adventure or winter sports
💡 Top tip: You can upgrade your insurance to include add-ons like winter sports, adventure sports, gadget cover and travel disruption cover.
Remember your excess!
Your excess is the amount of money you must pay towards any insurance claim you make. It is a fixed amount regardless of the claim size and it is set in advance when you take out your policy.
Increasing your excess can lower the cost of your policy, but make any claims less affordable.
Medical care in Sri Lanka
British citizens can access healthcare in Sri Lanka, but it is not free. Public hospitals are low cost, but standards can be basic, while private hospitals offer better care and usually require payment upfront, so travel insurance is strongly recommended.
Emergency care outside cities is limited, so plan for potential transfers to Colombo and always get travel insurance covering medical evacuation.
Can I get travel insurance for Sri Lanka if I have a pre-existing medical condition?
Yes, you can get travel insurance cover with a pre-existing medical condition, but it may be more expensive than a standard policy.
A pre-existing condition is any medical issue for which you had symptoms, medication, medical advice, treatment, or tests before you took out your insurance policy. It includes mental health conditions and disabilities.
You must disclose all pre-existing medical conditions. If you don't, your insurer can refuse to pay out for a claim.
Do I need vaccinations to visit Sri Lanka?
🚩 Vaccination recommendations may be different for individuals with specific health conditions. We recommend speaking to your doctor 6-8 weeks before travelling.
The NHS Fit for Travel website recommends that your regular vaccinations are up to date before you travel to Sri Lanka, including your flu and Covid-19 vaccines if you are eligible for these.
Tetanus, diphtheria, hepatitis A and typhoid, are also strongly recommended, as these diseases can be spread through contaminated food or water.
Depending on your travel plans, length of stay and activities, you may also be advised to consider hepatitis B, rabies or Japanese encephalitis, particularly if you’ll be travelling to rural areas, staying for a long time or working with animals.
Do I need a visa to visit Sri Lanka?
🚩 Visa requirements for a country can change. For the most up-to-date information, check the UK government’s foreign travel advice website.
Yes, British citizens need a visa to visit Sri Lanka for tourism or business. You must apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before you travel, which is a digital permit linked to your passport and acts like a short-stay visa.
ETAs are usually valid for a stay of up to 30 days and should be obtained online before departure. If you want to stay longer than the initial 30 days, you can typically apply to extend your ETA through Sri Lanka’s official immigration portal once you’re in the country.
Your passport must also be valid for at least six months beyond your arrival date.
What travel insurance do I need for trekking or adventure sports in Sri Lanka?
For trekking and adventure sports in Sri Lanka, you’ll need to add adventure sports cover.
Most standard travel insurance plans cover everyday activities, but they often exclude more challenging or adventurous pursuits like trekking, surfing, diving or other adrenaline-led sports.
That’s because insurers assess risk levels differently, so what’s fine for a beach holiday might not cover you if you’re injured while trekking or taking part in water or land-based adventure sports.
You may be able to add adventure sports cover to your existing travel insurance for a fee. Travel insurers will also often bundle together adventure sports cover and winter sports cover.
How do claim on my travel insurance?
Report the incident you want to claim for to your insurer as soon as possible
If something is stolen, report it to the local police within 24 hours and get a report
Keep records of what has happened, including photos or videos and the contact details of anyone involved
Read our guide to making a claim on your travel insurance.
Find cheap Sri Lanka travel insurance with MoneySuperMarket
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Compare travel insurance quotes | Sri Lanka cover from just £12.04
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