Many Sri Lankan websites and online services only provide their complete range of offerings to users within that country. This means you’ll need a Sri Lankan IP address if you’re interested in accessing some content and accounts somewhere else.
TV platforms and streaming sites like Hiru TV, Rupavahini, and City Cable may block you from tuning in to enjoy your favorite content when they detect your foreign location. The same applies to some sporting, gaming, and gambling sites. Plus, financial transactions using your local bank may trigger fraud alerts, cutting access to your account.
Thankfully, there are quite a few approaches to take, and a virtual private network (VPN) is the most reliable one. In this article, you’ll learn how to obtain an IP address in Sri Lanka following this method.
Why You Need a VPN for Getting a Sri Lankan IP Address
While you’re in the bustling streets of Colombo, Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia’s serene atmosphere, or any corner of Sri Lanka, you’ll enjoy unrestricted access to content tailored to the country. Well, that is as long as you have an active subscription to paid platforms.
Things switch up pretty quickly as soon as you travel abroad. Once you step outside the island nation’s borders, accessing and enjoying the curated content you’re used to becomes a challenge. International copyright and licensing agreements trigger restrictions, leaving you unable to enjoy your favorite shows, movies, or exclusive local programming.
For instance, if your travels take you to the United Kingdom, your streaming accounts are contained to the country and that content library. So, you can only watch Netflix UK, not Netflix Sri Lanka.
But there are other issues. Sri Lankan bank applications are sensitive to location changes, and trying to complete transactions from abroad may raise security flags. What’s more, some portals and government services may have restrictions or specific access requirements tied to IP addresses within the country.
A quality VPN addresses all these issues by encrypting your online traffic , rerouting it through a secure tunnel, and providing you with an IP address located in Sri Lanka. That way, it tricks those services into accepting your current location as Sri Lanka, even if you’re far away.
How to Get a Sri Lankan IP Address – Full Tutorial
Here’s our quick guide to acquiring an IP address in Sri Lanka. Most top VPN providers are user-friendly, so you shouldn’t have any significant issues following the steps below.
Our VPN of choice is ExpressVPN. Apart from its speedy local (and international) network, it will help you bypass geo-restrictions and explore content seamlessly.
Step 1: Choose a Reliable VPN
First things first, grab a VPN that’s dependable and has servers in Sri Lanka. But there’s more to it than that.
Obtain a Sri Lankan IP address with ExpressVPN
Your preferred provider must also deliver good performance and be excellent at unblocking online content, both of which are necessary for seamless streaming.
What’s more, you want your identity and data safe while you use the VPN, so watch out for top-notch privacy and security features.
Step 2: Subscribe to the Service
Once you’ve made your VPN pick, head over to the provider’s official website.
Sign up, create an account, and while you’re at it, choose the subscription plan that fits your budget and preferences. However, some VPNs offer trial periods.
If your chosen provider has that option, you should leverage it to test the service before committing.
Step 3: Install the VPN App
Next, download the VPN application from either the official website or your device’s app store.
The installation process is usually straightforward, but don’t hesitate to check out any installation guides they offer. If that’s not sufficient, you can always reach out to a customer support representative.
Step 4: Get a Sri Lankan IP address
Now, let’s get to the exciting part: obtaining a Sri Lankan IP address. Fire up the VPN app and log in with your account credentials. If you used ExpressVPN, that would be your activation code, which you’ll find on your account dashboard.
Click the server menu on the app’s home screen and navigate to a Sri Lankan-based server. Select one and wait a few moments while the app establishes a connection.
You’re almost set. Just to be sure, you may verify the connection using an online IP address checker like whatismyipaddress.com.
If the addresses and locations on both platforms align, your Sri Lankan IP address is good to go.
Best VPNs for Obtaining an IP Address in Sri Lanka
Follow the steps above using a VPN service with Sri Lankan servers, and you’ll get an IP address in the country. That said, VPNs don’t all measure up equally — with so many in the market, the chances of opting for an underwhelming or deficient provider are pretty significant.
To prevent that from happening, we tested dozens of available options and assessed them based on certain factors. These VPNs came out on top.
1. ExpressVPN
The best VPN for Sri Lanka (and for getting a Sri Lanka IP address) is ExpressVPN. It’s easy to see why, considering its excellent blend of performance and functionality.
ExpressVPN offers an impressive network comprising 3,000+ servers across 105 countries, including Sri Lanka. While the VPN doesn’t put out information on the number of servers or locations in the country, you can expect smooth, reliable connections, regardless of your current location.
The provider’s exceptional performance places it on the top of the VPN speed leaderboard. That, alongside its excellent unblocking capabilities, makes ExpressVPN your best bet for streaming content, whether on local or international platforms.
You can also be sure that your online activities and information are kept confidential and secure. ExpressVPN implements military-grade AES 256-bit encryption to protect your data from cybercriminals and snoops. It also offers several standard and advanced features, including a kill switch, DNS leak protection, and an effective tracker blocker. What’s more, the provider doesn’t store personally identifiable data on its servers.
ExpressVPN works with a wide range of platforms and devices, including routers, streaming devices, and smart TVs. A single subscription covers up to eight devices simultaneously.
If you’re looking to give the provider a go, a 30-day money-back guarantee backs your purchase.
2. CyberGhost
While ExpressVPN deserves the top spot, affordability isn’t its strong suit. A cheaper alternative is CyberGhost, especially when you consider its longer-term packages.
CyberGhost stands out in more ways than one. For instance, it offers the most extensive network on this list, with 11,500+ servers — and the figure is always climbing. They span 100 countries, and Sri Lanka makes the cut with 44 servers in Colombo.
That means you have plenty of connection options, which helps to ensure smooth experiences. In any case, thanks to high-performance infrastructure and an array of modern tunneling protocols, CyberGhost offers largely buffer-less and lag-free browsing and streaming.
Plus, it effortlessly bypasses geo-blocks on Sri Lankan television and streaming platforms, like Hiru TV, TV Derana, and more.
CyberGhost’s security is impeccable. It keeps hackers and snoops hands-off with bank-level encryption, a kill switch, and watertight leak protection. We especially like its automatic Wi-Fi protection feature, which comes in handy on unsecured public networks. Like ExpressVPN, CyberGhost operates an audited strict logless policy.
The VPN supports a host of operating systems and devices. One subscription lets you connect seven devices simultaneously.
CyberGhost’s confidence in its service is reflected in its 45-day money-back guarantee.
3. Surfshark
Surfshark integrates an extensive, versatile feature set with budget-friendly pricing, a combination not easily found among many VPN services.
You can choose from over 3,200 servers across 100 countries and grab your Sri Lankan IP address from any of the four options in the country’s capital.
The provider has an uncanny ability to circumvent restrictions on websites and online services. As a result, you can easily unlock access to any Sri Lankan platform or library from anywhere else. It’s just as good with larger sites like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, and more. Surfshark isn’t the fastest provider, but it’s not slow, and you shouldn’t suffer stop-start connections.
Surfshark has a deep arsenal of features to keep you anonymous and secure while you’re online. That includes tools like AES 256-bit encryption, a kill switch, and obfuscation. While most VPNs with a Double VPN feature pre-select the entry and exit servers, Surfshark allows you to choose Sri Lanka as one of the locations if you want. Expectedly, there’s a proven no-logs policy.
There’s a sweet cherry on top: Surfshark has no limits on simultaneous connections. It’s what makes it an excellent choice if you have many devices or a large household.
You can check the VPN out risk-free, thanks to its 30-day money-back guarantee.
What about free VPNs to get a Sri Lankan IP?
We’ve checked, but none of the best free VPN services offer servers in Sri Lanka, so you cannot use them to obtain an IP address there. That said, should you opt for other free-access providers with Sri Lankan servers if you discover them? We don’t recommend that.
Here’s why. Free VPN services typically come with many limitations, including slower connection speeds, data caps, and restricted bandwidth. These issues can severely impact your online experience — they can make streaming content seamlessly or engaging in other data-intensive activities challenging.
On top of that, they may compromise your privacy and security, exposing you to potential risks. Many free providers log extensively for profit. That not only counters the essence of using a VPN in the first place, but it also opens an avenue for government authorities to demand and receive details of your online activities. Plus, they may only offer subpar or obsolete features, providing exploitable vulnerabilities.
Use an affordable provider instead. They won’t break the bank, and you’re assured quality service and peace of mind.
Conclusion
Traveling outside Sri Lanka’s boundaries introduces limitations on numerous websites and online services, locking away familiar content behind geo-fences and rendering them inaccessible unless you secure a Sri Lankan IP address. The optimal solution is a quality VPN service.
CyberGhost and Surfshark are commendable options, but our top recommendation is ExpressVPN. A generous 49% on its annual subscription plan also comes with three extra months.
