{"license":"CC BY 4.0 — attribution: IsMyTripSafe.com","source":"https://ismytripsafe.com/sri-lanka/ella","updatedAt":"2026-07-29T01:33:57.423Z","place":{"city":"Ella","country":"Sri Lanka","countryCode":"LK","lat":6.8736058,"lon":81.0489927},"safety":{"score":73,"level":"SAFE","answer":"Yes — generally safe","saferThanPctOfCountries":77,"confidence":0.79,"caps":[],"databaseScore":71,"travellerSentiment":{"score":84,"label":"Mostly positive","summary":"Recent traveler posts describe Ella as welcoming and safe, with most visitors feeling comfortable walking during daylight; a minority note unease after dark on poorly lit side streets.","weightInScore":0.18,"components":[{"label":"Reported feel","score":78,"weight":0.35},{"label":"Robbery risk","score":92,"weight":0.45},{"label":"Pickpocket risk","score":78,"weight":0.2}]},"categories":[{"key":"crime","label":"Crime","score":66,"tier":1},{"key":"sentiment","label":"Traveller Sentiment","score":84,"tier":1},{"key":"advisories","label":"Advisories","score":72,"tier":2},{"key":"stability","label":"Stability","score":63,"tier":2},{"key":"health","label":"Health & Air","score":83,"tier":2}]},"advisories":[{"source":"U.S. Department of State","level":2,"label":"Exercise Increased Caution","updated":"Thu, 09 Oct 2025","url":"https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/sri-lanka-travel-advisory.html"},{"source":"UK Foreign Office (FCDO)","level":1,"label":"No advisory against travel","updated":"2026-05-26T14:31:56Z","url":"https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/sri-lanka"},{"source":"Government of Canada","level":2,"label":"Exercise a high degree of caution","updated":"2026-07-21T08:16:23.6138986-04:00","url":"https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/sri-lanka"}],"indicators":[{"key":"homicide","label":"Homicide rate","value":3.31094038448808,"display":"3.3 / 100k","year":"2019","score":76,"source":"World Bank Open Data"},{"key":"crime_major_constraint","label":"Crime seen as a major business constraint","value":2.1,"display":"2.1%","year":"2011","score":94,"source":"World Bank Enterprise Surveys"},{"key":"terrorism_deaths_pm","label":"Terrorism deaths (latest year)","value":0.04596433167861739,"display":"0.05 / million","year":"2021","score":94,"source":"Global Terrorism Database"},{"key":"road_deaths","label":"Road traffic deaths","value":11.5,"display":"11.5 / 100k","year":"2021","score":62,"source":"WHO Global Health Observatory"},{"key":"stability","label":"Political stability & no terrorism","value":59.9106677,"display":"60/100","year":"2024","score":60,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"rule_of_law","label":"Rule of law","value":52.5287187,"display":"53/100","year":"2024","score":53,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"corruption","label":"Control of corruption","value":40.066474,"display":"40/100","year":"2024","score":40,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"gov_effectiveness","label":"Government effectiveness","value":46.002677,"display":"46/100","year":"2024","score":46,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"regulatory","label":"Regulatory quality","value":50.1437699,"display":"50/100","year":"2024","score":50,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"voice","label":"Voice & accountability","value":54.6434795,"display":"55/100","year":"2024","score":55,"source":"World Bank Governance Indicators"},{"key":"numbeo_crime_index","label":"Crime index (crowdsourced)","value":42.5,"display":"42.5 / 100","year":null,"score":63,"source":"Numbeo Crime Index"},{"key":"human_trafficking_victims","label":"Detected human-trafficking victims","value":3.08,"display":"3.08 / 100k","year":"2024","score":57,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"bribery_contact_rate","label":"Bribery during public-official contact","value":16,"display":"16.0%","year":"2019","score":65,"source":"UN SDG Global Database"},{"key":"air_quality","label":"Air quality","value":30,"display":"US AQI 30 · Good","year":null,"score":93,"source":"Open-Meteo Air Quality"},{"key":"health","label":"Travel health notices","value":null,"display":"3 global notices","year":null,"score":92,"source":"CDC Travelers' Health"},{"key":"weather","label":"Extreme weather","value":30,"display":"July: highs ~30°C · no weather extremes","year":null,"score":100,"source":"Open-Meteo"},{"key":"natural_hazards","label":"Natural hazards","value":0,"display":"No active alerts · low seismicity","year":null,"score":100,"source":"GDACS / USGS"},{"key":"advisory","label":"Government travel advisory","value":2,"display":"Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution · 2 govts","year":null,"score":72,"source":"US State Dept · Canada"}],"healthNotices":[{"level":"Alert","title":"Global Polio","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level2/global-polio"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Dengue","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/dengue-global"},{"level":"Watch","title":"Global Measles","url":"https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level1/measles-globe"}],"hazardAlerts":[],"fieldResearch":{"verdict":"Yes — Ella is one of Sri Lanka’s safest hill‑station towns for visitors, but exercise a high degree of caution due to scams and occasional landslides.","summary":"Ella’s composite safety index of 71 reflects low violent crime, good health and environmental scores, and no active disaster alerts. Recent news focuses on Cyclone Ditwah’s aftermath and isolated incidents of tour‑related scams, while official advisories urge heightened caution for travel to Sri Lanka overall.","robberyRisk":{"level":"Low","note":"Violent robbery against tourists is rare; most incidents involve petty theft in crowded market areas"},"pickpocketRisk":{"level":"Moderate","note":"Pickpocketing is common near the railway station, busy cafés and during peak trekking hours on Ella Rock"},"safeAreas":["Ella Town Centre","Ella Rock Trailhead","Haputale Road Area"],"avoidAreas":["Ella Village Outskirts","Railway Viewpoint Near Ella Station"],"scams":["Overpriced or fake guided hikes on Ella Rock","Taxi fares inflated or drivers refusing to use meters","Street vendors selling counterfeit souvenirs or “authentic” tea at inflated prices"],"zones":[{"name":"Ella Town Centre","level":"safe","note":"well-lit, police presence, low violent crime; stay alert for petty scams"},{"name":"Ella Rock Trailhead","level":"caution","note":"daylight only; avoid night hikes and isolated paths"},{"name":"Haputale Road Area","level":"caution","note":"busy transport hub; watch belongings and taxi scams"},{"name":"Ella Village Outskirts","level":"avoid","note":"remote zones lack lighting and police; higher risk of landslides and isolated incidents"},{"name":"Railway Viewpoint Near Ella Station","level":"caution","note":"crowded spots; keep valuables secure and avoid wandering alone after dark"}]}}