Street Scams in Kandy, Sri Lanka
Pickpockets, distraction thieves, fake petitions, and street hustles in tourist areas. Below are the street scams scams reported in Kandy — how they work and how to avoid them.
For broader context, compare this scam type with nearby destinations like Kochi, Udaipur, and Bengaluru.
Last updated: April 4, 2026
4
Street Scams Scams
14
Total in Kandy
How it works
Kandy has a long-established gem trade, but tourist-facing shops near the Temple of the Tooth and in the city center routinely sell synthetic, heat-treated, or low-quality stones as high-grade Sri Lankan sapphires, rubies, and other gems. Prices for fake stones are set at levels appropriate for genuine articles. Buyers realize the deception only after returning home and having stones assessed.
How it works
Tuk-tuk drivers operating around Kandy city and the Kegalle and Matale districts offer cheap or free rides that include a stop at a "government-certified" spice garden. A person introduced as a doctor or professor guides tourists through the garden and performs complimentary herbal consultations, then pressures visitors to purchase oils, spice packets, and remedies at prices 5–10 times higher than the Kandy market rate. Products frequently lack proper labeling, usage instructions, or expiry dates. Drivers earn a commission on all purchases and may refuse to continue the journey if nothing is bought.
How it works
At smaller Hindu and Buddhist shrines in Kandy—most frequently reported at the Kataragama Devale near the Temple of the Tooth precinct—an individual posing as a temple attendant leads tourists into a side room where a robed figure performs a blessing or prayer with flowers and a bracelet. Afterward, a donations book is produced showing previous visitor entries of LKR 1,000–5,000 per person, and tourists are pressured or shamed into matching these amounts. Attendants become verbally aggressive toward tourists who refuse, accusing them of disrespecting religion.
How it works
Strangers, fake security guards, or tuk-tuk drivers positioned near the Temple of the Tooth, Peradeniya Botanical Gardens, and other Kandy landmarks tell arriving tourists that the site is closed due to a religious ceremony, government event, or maintenance. They then offer to take the tourist to an alternative attraction—typically a gem shop, batik factory, or spice garden where the redirector earns a commission. The Temple of the Tooth and Botanical Gardens rarely close to tourists without prior public notice.
See all scams in Kandy
14 total warnings across all categories