Help and emergencies in Sinhala
The words you hope to never need. Play the ten Sinhala words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 10 Sinhala phrases in this lesson
- උදව්!u-DAW
- Help!
- දොස්තරවරයෙකු කතා කරන්නDOS-ta-ra-wa-ra-ye-ku ka-TAA ka-RAN-na
- Call a doctor
- පොලිසියpo-LI-si-ya
- Police
- ෆාමසියFAA-ma-si-ya
- Pharmacy
- රෝහලROH-ha-la
- Hospital
- මට පාර වැරදුණාma-TA PAA-ra wa-ra-DU-naa
- I'm lost
- මට හොඳ නෑma-TA HON-da NAY
- I don't feel well
- හොරකම් කළාho-ra-KAM ka-LAA
- It was stolen
- මේක හදිසි අවස්ථාවක්MEY-ka ha-DI-si a-was-THAA-wak
- It's an emergency
- මාව තනියම ඉන්න දෙන්නMAA-wa ta-NI-ya-ma IN-na DEN-na
- Leave me alone
Shout clearly and repeat if needed. Sri Lankans are generally quick to assist strangers in genuine distress. The police emergency number is 119 and ambulance is 110.
Private hospitals in Colombo and major tourist towns offer good care. The word "dosthara" comes from Portuguese "doutor," a colonial legacy. Show this phrase on your phone if pronunciation proves difficult.
Emergency number is 119. Police stations are present in all towns. Tourist police units operate in Colombo, Kandy, and Galle. Always ask for a report number for any insurance claims.
Pharmacies (also called "medical shops") are widespread and many medications available by prescription in the West can be purchased over the counter here. Staff often speak enough English to assist.
Government hospitals are free but busy. Private hospitals like Lanka Hospitals and Asiri in Colombo offer faster service for travelers. Keep travel insurance documents accessible at all times.
Literally "the road went wrong for me".
Travelers in Sri Lanka should be aware of heat exhaustion and stomach issues from adjusting to local food. Say this to your guesthouse host and they will immediately mobilize to help, often with home remedies first.
Petty theft exists in crowded areas like Colombo Fort and busy bus stations. File a police report promptly for insurance purposes. Keep a photo of your passport and travel documents in cloud storage.
Literally "let me stay alone".