Travel vaccinations for Sri Lanka: requirements, advice and dengue

No vaccination is required for travel from Germany directly to Sri Lanka. The German Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt) recommends hepatitis A vaccination for all travellers and up-to-date routine vaccinations under the STIKO schedule, Germany’s national immunisation guidance, particularly measles. Depending on how you travel, hepatitis B, typhoid, rabies, Japanese encephalitis, dengue and chikungunya may be worth considering. Neither the Federal Foreign Office nor the DTG reports a malaria risk, but dengue is widespread in 2026.

Entry rules: yellow fever only after certain routes

According to the WHO, Sri Lanka is not an area with yellow fever transmission. The Federal Foreign Office states that anyone aged nine months or over who arrives from a yellow fever area, or spent more than 12 hours in transit in one, must show proof of yellow fever vaccination. For a holiday with a flight from Germany this is usually not relevant, but it does matter for tours that include stops in Africa or South America. See our guide to yellow fever vaccination.

Recommended vaccinations by type of trip

Sri Lanka combines cultural tours of temples and highland tea plantations with beach holidays on the south and west coasts and safaris in national parks. The overview table on this page shows what the Federal Foreign Office recommends for everyone and what only after individual assessment.

For all travellers

Hepatitis A is spread through contaminated food and water, and the Federal Foreign Office recommends vaccination for every trip to Sri Lanka. Also check your routine vaccinations against your vaccination record, especially measles.

Depending on your trip and personal risk

The Federal Foreign Office lists hepatitis B, typhoid, rabies, Japanese encephalitis, dengue and chikungunya on an individual basis. Japanese encephalitis carries a low transmission risk in rural areas below 1,000 metres, mainly in November and December. Your doctor will assess whether any of these vaccinations is right for you. For a first orientation, try the travel vaccine check.

Dengue in 2026: the key issue

According to the Federal Foreign Office, more than 70,000 dengue cases were reported in Sri Lanka in 2026, and the health authorities warn that health facilities may become overwhelmed. Dengue is spread by day-biting mosquitoes, so consistent protection during the day is especially important:

• Use repellent regularly, including during the day and at your hotel.
• Wear long, light-coloured clothing, especially on excursions and at dusk.
• Sleep under a mosquito net if your accommodation is not mosquito-proof.

The Federal Foreign Office also advises seeking advice on dengue vaccination. STIKO currently recommends this vaccination only for people aged four and over who have had a laboratory-confirmed dengue infection and face an increased risk at their destination. For everyone else it makes no general recommendation because the data are still limited. As the vaccination course should be completed before departure, it needs a much longer lead time than other travel vaccinations. More in our guide to dengue and mosquito protection.

Chikungunya, leishmaniasis and lymphatic filariasis are also transmitted by mosquitoes in Sri Lanka.

Malaria

The Federal Foreign Office’s advice for Sri Lanka contains no malaria section, and Sri Lanka is not listed in the 2026 DTG country table. According to the DTG, no malaria risk is known or reported for unlisted countries, although isolated cases can occur. The DTG table therefore does not foresee preventive malaria medication for Sri Lanka. If you develop a fever after your trip, always mention your stay nonetheless.

Hygiene and contact with animals

Travellers’ diarrhoea is common, and hepatitis A and E as well as typhoid also occur among travellers. Make sure drinks are safe, food is cooked and you wash your hands regularly. In Sri Lanka, rabies is mainly transmitted by dogs and monkeys. Avoid contact with animals, however friendly they seem. After a bite or scratch, wash the wound immediately with soap for at least 15 minutes and seek medical help straight away. According to the Federal Foreign Office, rabies vaccines and immunoglobulins may be available only to a limited extent locally, see rabies and travel.

The Federal Foreign Office also notes that air pollution can cause health problems in large cities, sunshine is intense, and beaches used by animals carry a risk of parasitic skin infections.

Medical care in Sri Lanka

According to the Federal Foreign Office, care in the large cities and tourist centres is generally adequate to good, and in Colombo some specialist areas reach a high standard. Supply shortages following the economic crisis have not yet been fully resolved: especially in rural areas and public facilities, not all medicines are always available. Pack a complete travel health kit and enough of your regular medication. The Federal Foreign Office recommends travel health insurance with medical evacuation cover.

Timeline before departure

According to STIKO and the DTG, travel vaccinations should be completed at least two weeks before departure. If you are considering dengue vaccination, plan your consultation several months ahead. If you are combining Sri Lanka with India or the Maldives, discuss the entire route. Practices offering travel medicine are listed in our travel clinics directory.