Solo female travel in Sri Lanka - honest safety assessment and what to actually watch out for?

I'm a Sri Lankan woman who works in tourism and I interact with solo female travellers every week. Here's what I think is honest and practical.

The overall picture: Sri Lanka is safer for solo women than India in terms of physical safety, and broadly comparable to Southeast Asian countries like Vietnam or Cambodia. Serious violent crime against tourists is rare. But unwanted attention, staring, and occasionally following does happen, particularly in less touristy areas and involving younger men. Being aware of this is not being paranoid - it's being prepared.

What to expect: in tourist areas (Galle Fort, Ella, Kandy, Colombo Pettah) the atmosphere is generally fine. In quieter areas, at bus stations, and on local transport you may get more sustained staring. Some tuk-tuk drivers are fine; a small number are overfamiliar or make inappropriate suggestions. Most of these situations are manageable by being direct and not engaging.

Clothing: it does make a difference, particularly away from the beach. Covering shoulders and knees in temples is required. In general towns, loose clothing that covers shoulders and thighs results in less attention than shorts and a tank top. You do not need to dress conservatively at beach resorts or tourist areas - but in local market towns and religious sites, dressing with awareness of local norms is both respectful and practically reduces hassle.

Accommodation safety: guesthouses are generally fine. Choose places with reviews specifically mentioning solo women feeling comfortable. Avoid very cheap places without reviews. Lock your door and use the deadbolt. Waking up to someone trying your door is uncommon but not unheard of in very cheap places.

Night safety: tourist towns like Ella and Galle Fort feel safe in the evening. Walking alone at night in Colombo outside lit main streets requires normal city caution. Pettah market at night is not somewhere I'd recommend any tourist to be alone. Trust your read of situations.

Specific caution points: boat trips and whale watching operators occasionally have reports of inappropriate behaviour - choose operators with good recent reviews. Tuk-tuk journeys at night: use PickMe so there is a record of the driver rather than hailing one off the street.