How to Get a Sri Lankan IP Address in 2020

Sri Lanka is a beautiful island country in Southern Asia that’s home to a bustling internet infrastructure. If you’re traveling outside the country for work or a holiday and need access to online banking, government websites or TV programming, you’ll encounter geoblocks if you don’t have a Sri Lankan IP address. We’re going to show you how to get one.

An IP address is a unique set of random numbers that helps online services and websites identify your device and location, internet service provider and browser information. If you’re abroad and try to access Sri Lankan streaming services or websites, such as those run by the government or online banking, you won’t be able to because of regional restrictions.

Banks and governments use geographical restrictions to prevent fraudulent activity, while TV channels and media streaming services, such as Netflix, do it to meet the terms of copyright laws and territorial licensing restrictions. We covered that in-depth in our how to beat the Netflix VPN ban article.

Netflix has a sophisticated and reinforced screening system that’ll pick up on any proxy or virtual private network that can’t bypass its geoblocks and filters. A Sri Lankan IP address will spoof your location, and trick websites and other online services, including Netflix, into thinking that you’re browsing or streaming from Sri Lanka.

No matter your reason for getting an IP address in Sri Lanka, the best method is to use a VPN. This guide will explain why a VPN is important and recommend a few of our favorites, all of which can also be found in our best VPN reviews.

How to Get a Sri Lankan IP Address

One way to change your IP address is to use a proxy. Our best free proxy guide explains how to use one and offers recommendations. Proxies don’t encrypt your connection, though, so they’ll leave you open to malware and cybercrime because your true IP is visible. Plus, they’re unreliable and easy to detect and block.

That’s where using a VPN comes in. It’ll function like a proxy by connecting you to a remote server that replaces your true IP address, but it’ll also encrypt your connection with a VPN protocol to hide its source. Have a look at our VPN vs. proxy vs. Tor comparison for more information.

A VPN makes route tracing impossible. Our selection of the best VPN providers will ensure that you’re not blocked by detection systems and you remain anonymous online.

Next, we’re going to give you three recommendations with server locations in Sri Lanka that you can use to get a Sri Lankan IP address and access the content you want.

ExpressVPN

We recommend ExpressVPN for changing your IP address to a Sri Lankan one. It’s the best and fastest VPN, with excellent security, a massive server network that includes Sri Lanka and a strict no-logs policy. Read our ExpressVPN review for a better look at the service.

ExpressVPN also provides unlimited bandwidth and gets into Netflix which is why it’s our best VPN for streaming. It works on all major operating systems, and it’s easy to install and use. A seven-day free trial is available and there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee beyond that, so you can give it a go before subscribing.

HideMyAss

HideMyAss can get you a Sri Lankan IP address, too. It has a massive server network spread across 190 countries, including Sri Lanka. It also provides good security, but it keeps logs for up to 30 days. Our HideMyAss review has more information on the service.

HideMyAss’s speeds are okay for most activities and it doesn’t put caps on bandwidth. Plus it can get into most streaming services. You can use it on Windows, macOS, Android and iOS, and you can connect up to five devices simultaneously. A seven-day trial is available, as well as a 30-day money-back guarantee.

PureVPN

Since our last review, PureVPN has improved a lot, but it still falls short in a few critical areas. In fact, if it wasn’t for having six servers in Sri Lanka, it wouldn’t make this list. That said, it’s a fair choice if your activities aren’t sensitive, but for any other purpose, use the other two options. Read our PureVPN review to find out why.

Its server network is good, its speeds are decent and it doesn’t impose bandwidth limits. Security is also okay, but you have to set to 256-bit encryption. It also has a kill switch and privacy policy, but it gives contradicting information on how it keeps logs.

PureVPN works with Windows, macOS, Android and iOS. Support is available via live chat, which is fast, and email, but it could be better. A 31-day money-back guarantee is available. The service is much cheaper than most providers, but you shouldn’t base your decision on price.

Dangers of Using a Sri Lankan IP Address

You won’t be in danger using a Sri Lankan IP address but there are a few things you need to keep in mind. There are countries that have strict rules on freedom of speech, don’t respect privacy and are under heavy surveillance.

Sri Lanka’s overall internet freedom score isn’t at the level of Western standards, but the country has made improvements in the past few years. After communal violence in February and March 2018, the Sri Lankan government banned social media websites, such as Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Viber, saying the platforms were spreading and amplifying hate speech.

According to Freedom House, the country also has a troubling history of arresting and imprisoning online journalists using previous legislation, such as the Prevention of Terrorism Act. The laws have been replaced by a new counter-terrorism framework, but activists and legal scholars insist it also contains provisions that could limit freedom of expression.

Because of those things, you should consider using a VPN when trying to access Sri Lankan websites or content via media streaming platforms. It’ll not only bypass censorship, but also protect your privacy, secure your connection and unlock a host of geoblocked content, such as Netflix and online TV programming.

Final Thoughts

We hope we’ve helped you get a Sri Lankan IP address. The best method is to use a VPN because it offers good security that’ll keep you hidden and your connection secure. Any of our VPN selections will get you what you need, but ExpressVPN is the best because of its strong security and privacy, fast speeds and ability to get into streaming services.

If you have experience getting a Sri Lankan IP address, we’d love to hear your recommendations. Tell us about them in the comments section below. Thank you for reading.