Traveling to Sri Lanka? Use Your Sri Lankan IP Address to Surf the Web

When traveling to Sri Lanka, you may want to use your own computer's IP address to navigate and browse the internet, but you should be aware that this is not always possible. There are certain situations when using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) is the only way to do so, and there are also alternatives to VPNs that may be more suitable for you.

Internet freedom score in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka's Internet freedom score has declined during the past few months. The country's freedom score dropped from 51 to 49. This reflects a few key areas, including content limits, obstacles to access, and censorship. But it is not entirely accurate to attribute the score's decline to these issues alone.

Government restrictions on the online space were accompanied by law that impeded protests and a new penal code for spreading false information. In addition, the country witnessed a proliferation of arrests for online activity.

Online spaces were used to weaponize division. A group of government and media organisations were targeted by coordinated cyberattacks. And government officials regularly invoked the anti-terrorism law to silence journalists reporting on the Tamil minority in the north.

Despite increased efforts to curb false information, the Government of Sri Lanka has continued to take steps to roll back accountability mechanisms. In the run-up to the August 2020 parliamentary elections, the Rajapaksa family took a number of important steps to bolster the executive's powers.

On May 2022, the telecom regulator was placed under the Defence Ministry. However, it is not allowed to impose any financial penalties on telecommunications companies. It also did not disclose any details of its blocking orders.

During the period covered, Sri Lanka saw a significant increase in mobile broadband subscriptions. Data provided by the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) showed that more than 17 million mobile broadband subscriptions were registered as of March 2020.

While the country's government imposed restrictions on online space, Sri Lankans continued to engage in digital activism. Users were intimidated and arrested for postings related to Covid-19 and other protests. Also, harassment contributed to the self-censorship of journalists.

Nevertheless, the government of Sri Lanka is aware of the growing importance of its online space. In the run-up to the presidential election, Gotabaya Rajapaksa stated that he would support press freedom. Although his administration took steps to strengthen the executive's power, it was slow to implement transitional justice mechanisms.

Ultimately, Sri Lanka's Internet freedom score declined in a few key areas. However, the country still has a way to go to realize its potential as a digital democracy.

VPNs are legal in Sri Lanka

VPNs are legal in Sri Lanka, though the government has been known to censor and block some sites. In the past, the Sri Lankan government has imposed restrictions on news and social media platforms. This was done to suppress anti-government protests.

The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka is responsible for regulating the Internet in the country. It blocks websites and popular social media platforms to thwart anti-government rallies. However, the government has recently restrained itself from blocking the Internet.

Using a VPN is an effective way to avoid restrictions. The best Sri Lanka VPNs offer strong encryption, a kill switch, no log policy, and obfuscated servers. These features help to prevent data leaks, keep you anonymous online, and unblock any blocked sites.

ExpressVPN, for example, has an excellent selection of protocols. In addition, it offers fast connections and reliable protection.

NordVPN provides users with access to a massive server network. They also have a 30-day money back guarantee. Plus, they offer native app support for Android and macOS, as well as comprehensive customer support.

Surfshark is another fast and affordable VPN for Sri Lanka. They also have a large server network that includes servers in India, Singapore, and Malaysia. Their servers offer access to hundreds of streaming and sports channels.

Although piracy isn't illegal in the country, it is more closely monitored. A few cases of large-scale copyright infringement have resulted in fines.

ProPrivacy recommends that you download and stream content legally. Also, be aware of laws that govern the publication of damaging reports. For example, a user who downloads pornographic content may be subject to a fine.

While VPNs aren't the only solution to keeping your activities private, they do provide the most effective way to protect you from unwanted surveillance. You can also use them to watch TV shows and movies that aren't available in your region.

When it comes to choosing the best Sri Lanka VPN, security and ease of use are important. However, you should also take note of a few other things.

Lastly, be sure to choose a company that provides a no-log policy and no data retention. Otherwise, you could face a lawsuit for exposing your personal information.

Web proxy service allows you to browse with a Sri Lankan IP address

If you are traveling to Sri Lanka and want to browse the web, you can use a web proxy service to bypass blocked sites. These services enable you to log on to a restricted server and browse the web with your Sri Lankan IP address.

The IP address is a device's unique identifier online. It can tell a lot about you. However, you don't have to worry about being tracked down if you use a good web proxy service.

One of the ways to get a Sri Lankan IP is to use a Virtual Private Network (VPN). A VPN provides you with an encrypted connection to any location. This makes it virtually unhackable. In addition, using a VPN allows you to unlock local television channels as well as websites.

Another way to get a Sri Lankan IP is by using a Smart DNS server. This is a bit of a misnomer, as a smart DNS is simply a server that can tell you your IP.

Using a smart DNS for Sri Lanka is a better choice than a web proxy, but you might not have the same luck. Smart DNS uses your ISP's router to route your traffic through another server.

You can also use a TOR browser to get the same results. Web proxies aren't necessarily secure, so be sure to make your selection carefully.

While it's possible to get a Sri Lankan IP for free, it's much more prudent to pay for one. There are a number of paid services that can provide you with a Sri Lankan IP. ExpressVPN is among the best. Besides offering great encryption and strong speeds, it's also affordable.

Some other services to try are a web proxy and a smart DNS. Use these to see what Sri Lankan websites are available to you, and consider whether or not you are able to access them before committing to downloading or streaming content.

Remember to clear your cache in case you encounter a web page that can't be accessed. As a last resort, you can try changing your IP to a Sri Lankan one.

Alternatives to VPNs

The Sri Lankan government has been cracking down on internet freedom. This includes blocking international media sites and news websites. There are also laws restricting the use of copyrighted materials. Large-scale infringements have led to fines and imprisonment.

Luckily, there are some alternatives to VPNs that are easy to use. These include proxies. But they are not as effective as a VPN. If you want a more secure and reliable alternative, check out CyberGhost.

It's the cheapest VPN on this list. Plus, it comes with a 45-day money-back guarantee. That's a great deal. However, you'll need to install the app on your device.

Surfshark is another inexpensive option. Unlike many services, it has a large server network. As a result, it's a good all-around choice. Despite its low price, it performs as well as the best brands.

HideMyAss is another excellent option for people living in Sri Lanka. It has more than a thousand servers in over 60 countries, including a couple in Sri Lanka. In addition, it offers apps for Android and iOS. You can also log in to the service through live chat support.

NordVPN is another excellent choice for people who are looking to protect their online activities. With more than a thousand servers in over 70 countries, it's one of the top brands in the world. And like most of its competitors, it has a wide range of features.

ExpressVPN is another option that is worth considering. It's easy to use and backed by a solid customer service. For a limited time, it's offering a free trial.

While not as comprehensive as some of the other options on this list, HideMyAss is a good way to bypass certain streaming restrictions. To protect your privacy, though, you should only download content from legitimate sources.

CyberGhost is another popular option. The Romanian-based provider has servers in over a dozen countries, including Sri Lanka. They use 256-bit AES encryption and a kill-switch. Additionally, they offer desktop software for Windows, MacOS, and Linux.

PureVPN is another budget-friendly option. PureVPN is available for both Android and iOS. Even though it has fewer servers than other providers, its fast speeds and great security are a big draw.