Common tourist scams in Sri Lanka and how to avoid them

Transport is where most travellers lose money. A tuk-tuk driver may say the meter is broken, quote a flat fare several times the going rate, or agree a low price and then claim it was per person. Fix the total price and the destination before you sit down, confirm it is for the whole vehicle, and have small notes ready. If a driver insists on stopping at a 'family' shop, a spice garden or a gem workshop, that is a commission stop: say no and, if it continues, ask to stop and pay for the distance covered.

Ticket touts work the car parks at Sigiriya, the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy and Galle Fort. They offer 'fast track' entry, a guide who is 'required', or a ticket at a small markup. Official counters and official websites are the only place to buy. At temples, the shoe-minding and sarong 'donations' are sometimes inflated; a modest amount is normal, a demand for thousands of rupees is not.

Gem and jewellery shops are the highest-value scam. The pitch is an investment: buy here, sell at a profit at home. Sri Lankan sapphires are real, but the resale market for a tourist purchase usually is not. Treat any pressured purchase as a no. The same applies to spice and tea 'wholesale' stops where the driver earns a cut.

Card and ATM issues are less common but worth guarding. Use bank ATMs at branches during the day, cover the keypad, and decline 'dynamic currency conversion' so you are charged in rupees. Keep a second card separate from the first. Petty theft and bag-snatching exist in busy markets and on crowded buses, so keep phones and wallets out of back pockets.

If something goes wrong, stay calm and get it in writing where you can: a receipt, a photo of the vehicle plate, the driver's name. Report serious fraud to the police (119) and to your card issuer if you paid by card. For a disputed fare, paying and walking away is usually faster than arguing.

Carry small rupee notes so you can pay the agreed amount without waiting for change. Save your hotel address in Sinhala or Tamil script, or show it on a map, so there is no confusion about the destination. Use a metered ride app where it works, and compare the app price with any flat quote. At temples, dress to cover shoulders and knees, and keep a sarong in your bag rather than renting one at the gate. If a deal feels rushed, it usually is: take ten minutes and the pressure drops.