Sri Lanka, Surf and safety

As for security,there have been bombs taken onto a few buses in recent months with a number of people killed, and a bomb some months ago at Fort Station I . My view is that I have more chance of winning the lottery than of being blown up and I will continue to use buses and trains as before. I suppose the decision depends on your philosphy of life. I am confident I will be OK in most situations and if I end up not being OK I will worry then, not before. In contrast my sister will not do anything which involves even a minimal risk as she is convinced something bad will happen to her. Guess which of us has seen more of the world?

Yeah, I'm with wadiwadi really, I mean I will continue to use the bus system... it may not run to a timetable, but I think at times it can be better than public transport in the UK, (definitely better than US) as you can get pretty much anywhere with it.

As for safety, bus bombings have decreased loads over the last few months, but who knows. Again, all up to chance.

If you are looking to minimise risk, then hire a car or something... not as much fun though.

I have been back in the Sri Lanka for 6 weeks now living at Hikkaduwa. It can some times be a little disconcerting as here (Hikkaduwa) you would not know that there even was a war in the country (except for the lack of tourists and the grim faces of locals because of this and the economy). I have spent a several days and nights in Colombo and things are the same as they were when I lived here for a year one year ago. There is a lot of military and check points (usually no problems for tourists) in and around the airport and Colombo. Not knowing what your budget is you could get a taxi from the aiport and stay in Colombo the night. Hotel Juliana (I recomend this as I have stayed there many times) is 3,500 rupees a night and they can organise a taxi for you. It may be a "girl" thing but unlike Wadwadiman I don't particularly like or feel totally safe on public transport here (even with my husband). If I have to travel and cannnot get a lift backwards and forwards to Colombo I prefer to take the small A/C buses which you can catch at either Fort bus terminal or on Galle Road from Col 4 onwards going south. I'm sure there are people who could recomend places in Negombo for the night which is about half and hour from the aiport by tuktuk.