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Sri Lanka

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Accommodations and Accessibility

The IFSA team is ready to help you plan for various accommodations you might need abroad. We’re here to support you and help you prepare for a successful study abroad experience.   

Early planning is key. First, it’s important to know that options for accommodations vary by country, city, and university. This makes it important to share your requests for academic, mental health, diet, religious practices, housing, physical disabilities, and other accommodations early in the planning process. Connect with your IFSA Enrollment Counselor or with our Health, Safety and Wellness team at hsw@ifsa-butler.org as soon as possible.   

The information you share on your health and wellness and housing forms supports this process. After receiving these forms, our Health and Wellness team will follow up as needed to help you arrange accommodations you may need. Our goal is to plan carefully with your help.   

Academic accommodation. Again, let us know early about any accommodations you might need, and be aware that accommodations might look different in Sri Lanka than what you are used to in the U.S. Our IFSA teams in the U.S. and Sri Lanka will work with you and your instructors to meet your needs to the best of our abilities.  

Mobility. Expect challenges from inadequately adapted infrastructure. Kandy has a few sidewalks, but mostly simple roadsides. More modern buildings and facilities are equipped with access ramps, sloped paths and other essential features. Buses, tuk-tuks and trains are not adapted for use by people with reduced mobility. 

It’s wise to do some research to make sure your needs can be met. We’re happy to help you through this process – we want you to have an incredible and fulfilling experience!  

More to explore:

Mental and Physical Health

Maintaining your mental and physical health while abroad is a priority, and we’re ready to help you plan to support both. We’re here to help you work with CISI insurance to find local health care abroad, as well as to create a plan for your specific needs. Early planning is key, so don’t hesitate to work with our Health and Wellness team early in the application process and ask for guidance from your Enrollment Counselor. Please share your needs on our health and housing forms, so we can follow up.   

Sports and fitness. Students can use University of Peradeniya’s well-equipped gym, track, sport fields, and Olympic-size pool, and join any university sports clubs, including field hockey, badminton, net ball, tennis, basketball, volleyball, and cricket. Sports equipment is available to borrow. You’ll visit the sports complex during orientation. In the past, IFSA students have enjoyed playing cricket with other students and host-siblings.  

Check with the IFSA team about CISI insurance coverage for injuries sustained during sports. Coverage is generally broad but there are exceptions for high-level competition. 

Students can also find private gyms and clubs in Kandy.  

Eating healthy. A typical traditional Sri Lankan plate offers balanced nutrition, with many plant-based dishes and a serving of fish. Due to its tropical location and varied landscapes, Sri Lanka has a healthy supply of fresh vegetables and fruits year-round, organically grown in rural regions. Sri Lankan food is spicy! Not a fan? Tone it down with a yogurt drink, like mango lassi. 

Pro tip: Look for women-run health food outlets (open-air kitchens with chefs in green aprons). Run by local women, these vegan/vegetarian restaurants were created by the Ministry of Agriculture to promote regional, homegrown ingredients and healthy eating, and encourage entrepreneurship among women. Grab a filling meal with a glass of freshly squeezed fruit juice or a cup of herbal tea for less than $5! 

Faith Communities

Sri Lanka is home to many religious backgrounds, including Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity. Buddhism has been practiced here since the third century, and did not weaken until Christian missionaries arrived in the 16th century. While 70% of the population identifies as Buddhist, the small island nation is accepting of other religions. In the post-colonial era of the country, a power struggle that led to a civil war that ended in 2009.   

Universally, religion plays an important role in Sri Lankan society and has a heavy influence on culture. Different ethnic groups tend to practice a single religion. Most Sinhalese practice Buddhism, Tamils tend to be Hindu, Moors tend to be Muslim, and Burghers tend to be Christian. Religion contributes to the rich blend of diverse cultural patterns, both indigenous and derived from trade as well as western colonization.  

Faith-based clubs and societies on campus cater to Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Christianity and Catholicism. The Buddhist temple hosts meditation classes and dhamma discussions. There is also a Hindu Kovil, a mosque, an Anglican chapel and a Catholic church. Sunday services are available in both the chapel and the church. Students can participate in the regular activities at these places of worship during free time. Many students participate in religious and ritual activities organized by host families or their friends and relatives. Ask the IFSA team if you need help finding a place to worship in Kandy. 

You can also participate in a day-long meditation and yoga program at the Nilambe Meditation Centre, 20 kilometers from the campus, as part of the religious studies course or as an activity sponsored by IFSA (included, no fee).     

More to explore:   

Considerations for Women

For many years, Sri Lanka has been a model for other South Asian countries for its commitment to gender equality.  However, it’s good to understand a few nuances before you go abroad.   

Women in Sri Lanka still experience gender-based violence, lower employment rates, and minimal representation in the government. The percentage of members of parliament who identify as women has recently doubled to 10%. Sri Lanka has the highest rate of sexual harassment in South Asia, and South Asia has the second-highest rate of gender-based violence worldwide.  While there is still a gender pay gap, this issue gets attention in the media and policy discussions. Several national initiatives have begun to reduce the pay gap and increase the number of female executives.  

Despite progressive attitudes, women still generally tend to spend more time on household work than men. While women get the same education as men, patriarchal hierarchies are often perpetuated at schools. Gender stereotyping may be unintentional, but as teachers maintain traditional ideas in the classroom, gender norms will persist. 

Safety. Sri Lanka is considered relatively safe, but violent crime or harassment of Western foreigners occurs. The most common crime is petty theft, and tourists are likely targets. Students are encouraged to take personal safety precautions, which we’ll review during orientation.  

Dress. Overall, the dress code in Sri Lanka is very modest and more formal than in the U.S. Women wear sarees to teach or in government work. Otherwise, they wear blouses with skirts that fall to at least the knee. Younger women wear jeans and other Western tops, but never low-cut shirts.  People do not wear shorts unless near the beach, where it is acceptable to show more skin. Bare shoulders, chest, and legs are banned at temples. 

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Race and Ethnicity

According to the CIA World Factbook, 75% of Sri Lankans are Sinhalese, an ethnic group which is predominantly Theravada Buddhist; 11% of the country is Tamil, an ethnic group which is predominantly Hindu that lives in the north and east of the country; and the rest of the population inludes Sri Lankan Moors, Indian Tamil, and others. Sinhala and Tamil are the official and national languages. About one quarter of the population also speak English.  

Studying abroad as a heritage seeker can be a complex journey that brings expected and surprising experiences and emotions. It can be fulfilling to find community and cultural connection in your country of ancestry. 

As an American, you might experience stereotyping, rooted in how U.S. culture is portrayed in popular TV and film.  Some might question that you’re American, if they perceive you as non-White. The IFSA resident team is always available to support you if you experience this, and we’re here to help you plan for it, too. Just reach out anytime.  

As you learn about Sri Lankan ethnicities and cultures, historical context is helpful. Sri Lanka is home to many ancient cities that are now UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Once centers of political and religious power, these ruins offer views to the past.  

Sri Lanka was colonized by the Portuguese, Dutch, and British, and these influences are evident in the country’s colonial-era architecture. Predominantly dependent on agriculture and the tourism industry, Sri Lanka has its own tribal, ethnic, and modern social groups with distinctive language, food, art, music, and festivals. Masks are deeply linked to Sri Lankan folklore, and often appear in healing rites and rituals. Mask carving and painting are revered art forms. Sri Lanka is also known for producing unique traditional drums (bera) and lacquer products. Performed by men, Kandyan dance features powerful footwork, whirls, and leaps. 

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Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

Sri Lanka is not known as an outwardly progressive country, and this is reflected in the treatment of underrepresented groups in society. There are no anti-discrimination laws that protect members of the community. Homosexuality is a crime for men and women, punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Same-sex marriage is illegal. The right to change legal gender requires medical diagnosis, and gender-affirming care is legal with medical diagnosis.  

Sri Lanka is wrestling with changing times, and there are pockets of society that want progress. In June 2024, the Sri Lankan court blocked a gender equality bill that would have allowed same-sex marriage and liberal attitudes towards gender identity choice.  

The IFSA program is based in Kandy. In Colombo, the capital, the LGBTQIA+ scene is growing and more welcoming to gay foreigners than to its own citizens. Some hotels, bars, and chains that are welcoming to LGBTQIA+ people, especially to expats. Many such establishments are located in Colombo and the oceanside town of Negombo.    

Your IFSA Enrollment Counselor is a great resource for learning about the environment in Sri Lanka for members of the LGBTQIA+ community. 

More to explore: 

More Support

From help managing money to supporting first-generation college students, our professional advising staff and onsite teams are here for you.  

On a budget? Ask the IFSA team for a list of free and more affordable activities.  

Student Perspectives

Read about living and learning in Sri Lanka: Student Stories.