What's blocked in Sri Lanka
All major apps work today; Sri Lanka has blocked social media during crises, most recently for 16 hours in April 2022.
- WhatsApp: Works
- Voice & video calls: Works
- Telegram: Works
- Signal: Works
- Discord: Works
- Facebook: Works
- Instagram: Works
- X (Twitter): Works
- TikTok: Works
- YouTube: Works
- Google: Works
- Works
- Age-gated
- Partly blocked
- Slowed down
- Blocked
App by app
None of the 71 apps we track is blocked or restricted in Sri Lanka right now.
Not offered in Sri Lanka
These companies don't sell their service here. That's a business or sanctions decision, not government censorship.
- Disney+
- HBO Max
- Hulu
- BBC iPlayer
- JioHotstar
- Peacock
- BGMI (Battlegrounds Mobile India)
Working normally
Chat & calls
Social media
Video, TV & music
Games
Privacy & tools
The 3 VPNs that fit Sri Lanka
Our assessment, plus what visitors in Sri Lanka are reporting this week.
Picked for streaming and everyday privacy.
NordVPN
ConnectsNot enough votes yet. Tested it here? Tell others below.
CyberGhost
ConnectsNot enough votes yet. Tested it here? Tell others below.
Surfshark
ConnectsNot enough votes yet. Tested it here? Tell others below.
Not sure about these three? See 3 more VPNs ExpressVPN, Private Internet Access and Proton VPN
ExpressVPN
ConnectsNot enough votes yet. Tested it here? Tell others below.
Private Internet Access
ConnectsNot enough votes yet. Tested it here? Tell others below.
Proton VPN
ConnectsNot enough votes yet. Tested it here? Tell others below.
We earn a commission if you buy a VPN through our links. It never changes what we report as blocked. How we pick and how we make money
What's going on
Sri Lanka blocked Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube, Instagram and other platforms for about 16 hours on 2–3 April 2022 during an emergency curfew, after earlier blocks such as the one following the 2019 Easter attacks. Freedom House rates it Partly Free (53/100) and criticises the 2024 Online Safety Act, which criminalises 'false' online statements.
Before you connect: Keep a VPN installed for crisis periods.
Is a VPN legal in Sri Lanka?
Legal
VPNs are legal.
This is general information, not legal advice.
Questions people ask
Are any apps blocked in Sri Lanka?
None of the 71 apps we track is fully blocked in Sri Lanka right now. All major apps work today; Sri Lanka has blocked social media during crises, most recently for 16 hours in April 2022.
Which streaming and online services are not available in Sri Lanka?
Disney+, HBO Max, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, JioHotstar, Peacock and BGMI (Battlegrounds Mobile India) are not offered in Sri Lanka. That is the companies' decision, often because of licensing or sanctions.
Is it legal to use a VPN in Sri Lanka?
Legal. VPNs are legal.
Which VPN works in Sri Lanka?
Our picks for Sri Lanka are NordVPN, CyberGhost and Surfshark. Check the live votes on this page for this week's results.
Report a block
Seeing something different in Sri Lanka? An editor reviews every report before the page changes.