How do I protect myself from leeches in Sinharaja rainforest?

Leech socks are your best line of defense. They are thick cotton bags that you pull over your trousers and tie below the knee. Because they are white, you can see the leeches crawling up and flick them off before they reach your skin. While salt works, it washes off in the rain. A better trick is to apply Siddhalepa or Dettol to your shoes. Most importantly, do not panic if one bites you. They are harmless, just use a bit of lime juice or salt and they will drop off immediately.