Is Sri Lanka Safe? Even for children?

Hello,
we're planning a trip to Sri Lanka with a 3 years old child.
We heard lots of bad news about Sri Lanka.
What do you think about safety?
Any suggestion for a trip with a child?
Thanks a lot

Ale

I have the same problem. The latest are not encouraging for travelers.
Is anybody currently in SL and can describe how the situation looks like (for travelers)?
Regards,

We plan to visit Sri Lanka on 2008.Jan.20-Feb.09 and already have the airline ticket right now.But according to the http://www.lankapage.com/ , there are bad news happened everyday.
Could anyone in the Sri Lanka express the exact situation?? Is it safe to travel recently?

There have been several similar posts in the recent past and replies from people just returned from Sri Lanka or people living there. Do a search in this branch. General consenses is it is safe to travel in the South with or without children.

I am in Sri Lanka at the moment with about 7000 English cricket fans ( inc some small children)and although there is a police presence as at home we are not all walking round petrified of being bombed.
Check out the statistics from your home country as to the number of people kiled on the roads, the number of children drowned and mortality from skin cancer and compare that to numbers killed by terrorists and suspect you will realise the risks are on the road and not on the beach so :
1- if your vehicle has seat belts use them as did Princess Diana's security guard who survived -
2- make sure that if in the sea that you are aware of currents
3- use tons of sunsceen
4- make sure you have rehydrating solution kit
5- mosquito protection etc

The Sri Lankans are a wonderfully welcoming people so I am not telling you to come but just to keep the risks in perspective

Travelling in any country poses a risk . I dont think there is anywhere in the world that would be considered 100% safe. You can be in the wrong place at the wrong time anywhere.
I have been to Sri lanka numerous times and would have no hesitation about bringing the kids there. I have always noted how much the local people adore kids and I have watched and talked to people with babies and small kids about their experiences .
The usual precautions apply as someone someone listed here . Watch out for insects and keep alot of sunscreen and drinking water around.

Find a good beach where the water is not too rough and the sand does not dangerously shelf off.
I am a great fan of Mirissa , I love the place and I have seen many people with kids there . Usually the water at Mirissa is calm, depends on the weather.
You can either stay at the large hotel on the beach , it has a pool , great for the kids, or one of the guesthouses there.
www.mirissa.com is a pretty good site about the area.

The rest of the country, just be careful about taking or hiring drivers who drive too fast . Air Con buses are fine , just dont sit by the window.
Just use your parential instincts and all will be fine.
Kids are alot tougher than they seem.

Hi...

Went there last month with my best friend , his wife and their 3 years old son.
No problem at all in the south and Hill country.... He had his 3rd birthday in Kandy actually. He kept on saying "Sri Lanka , cool ! "

Not sure about the north as we haven t been there.... Locals people told us that we , as tourists will be fine , but not them.....so nobody to drive you north.....

Of course it depends on you and everything could happen in Sri Lanka but also in NYC , London , Paris and so on....
I m living in Dublin and believe I felt safer in Sri Lanka for the baby.....

Enjoy...

B.

situation deteriorating rapidly - eg in colombo. Check press reports re suicide bombs etc in recent days. With or without the risk of bombings, I would not take a three year old there as I don't think the daily confrontation with many men with many guns on the streets is a great image for a child. Suggest you check the government travel advisories and heed their advice