If you are planning your next international trip to Sri Lanka, be prepared to deal with restricted internet access. The unstable law and order situation in the country has led to a complete ban on Facebook and WhatsApp many times in the past. Therefore, you may be unable to use regular internet services in the region easily.
For the social media blocked in Sri Lanka, the best VPN for Sri Lanka can help bypass the geo-restrictions and unlock the censored content. Effective and reliable Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) mask your IP address and route you through the server in a different country to unlock the content. Check out the best VPNs for unrestricted social media usage in Sri Lanka.
In this post, we will discuss how you can lift the social media ban in Sri Lanka using VPNs.
The best VPN for Social Media blocked in Sri Lanka
VPNs are known for improving online security by encrypting the data and protecting against attacks. We have compiled the best VPN for social media blocked in Sri Lanka.
1. ExpressVPN – Best VPN to Unblock Social Media in Sri Lanka
ExpressVPN is one of the best VPNs to use for social media blocked in Sri Lanka. ExpressVPN has always performed exceptionally well in terms of speed and connection stability. ExpressVPN is the best VPN to get Sri Lanka IP address since it is designed for data privacy, encryption, internet security, and site unblocking.
It has a wide server coverage worldwide, with over 3000 servers in 105 countries. It has servers in America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and particularly Sri Lanka to let you use the VPN services smoothly.
Privacy protection and user anonymity are two essential factors for bypassing the cyber ban in Sri Lanka. ExpressVPN doesn’t collect your data by following a no-log policy. The RAM-only servers ensure no data remains after the completion of a session.
Since Whatsapp not working in Sri Lanka 2022, we employed ExpressVPN to unblock Whatsapp, and it didn’t disappoint. Using ExpressVPN, we could unblock Instagram, Viber, Facebook, and Twitter. It provided a super-fast connection with unlimited data usage. With its fast servers operating worldwide, we were connected to the best server available instantly. In fact, it turned out to be the best VPN for Instagram in Sri Lanka.
With ExpressVPN, we could instantly connect to Instagram in Sri Lanka despite the ban.
With the ExpressVPN kill-switch feature, your identity is not exposed in case of sudden internet connection failure. Furthermore, ExpressVPN allows you to browse the internet in Sri Lanka anonymously and privately.
ExpressVPN offers military-grade AES-256 encryption to keep your data and location hidden on the Sri Lankan network. It has introduced a Lightway Protocol which is open-source and more secure. You can pay for ExpressVPN subscriptions via cryptocurrency for enhanced anonymity.
ExpressVPN is available for only $6.67/mo - Save up to 49% with exclusive 1-year plans + 3 months free with a 30-day money-back guarantee. You can also get an ExpressVPN free trial upon subscribing to it via your mobile device.
To learn more about ExpressVPN features and performance, check out our detailed ExpressVPN review.
- Easily unblocks all popular platforms and social media apps in Sri Lanka
- Top-class encryption for user security and privacy
- Lightning-fast servers to prevent ISP throttling and enjoy unrestricted access
- Live chat assistance availability 24/7
- Supports all major operating systems
- Costlier than the other premium VPN service providers
2. Surfshark – Budget-friendly VPN to Unblock Social Media in Sri Lanka
If you are searching for a cost-effective VPN for social media blocked in Sri Lanka, Surfshark is the best option available in the VPN industry. With more than 3200 servers spread across 3200 countries, Surfshark lets you access censored content in Sri Lanka for only $2.49/mo - Save up to 77% with exclusive 2-year plan + 30-day money-back guarantee. Its servers are fast enough to regulate the services when social media gets down in Sri Lanka.
Surkshark allows you to connect unlimited internet devices in Sri Lanka under one subscription. You can use unlimited bandwidth without any data caps. This means you can scroll through your favorite apps for hours without worrying about bandwidth consumption.
When tested Surfshark in Sri Lanka for accessing social media sites, it unlocked popular social media sites, such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and more. The Surfshark feature we love the most is the compatibility with unlimited device connections at once. We were overall satisfied with the quality of service and speed of delivery. We could scroll hours of TikTok feeds with Surfshark while social media Sri Lanka without any interruptions.
Surfshark allowed us to comfortably scroll through TikTok stories in Sri Lanka without facing any trouble.
Surfshark cares about the privacy and security of users by using AES-256 encryption, kill switch, and secure protocols like IKEv2, IPsec, and OpenVPN. Its Clean Web feature protects you from trackers, snoopers, and agencies monitoring your activities and collecting your information. Moreover, the No Borders mode guarantees access to the strictest online censorship and gets around any barriers political parties impose on the internet country-wide.
Surfshark masks your IP address perfectly using the Camouflage mode so that even your own ISP in Sri Lanka can’t capture your VPN usage and identity. It lets you browse privately and anonymously. Moreover, your information remains safe with its no-logs policy.
Surfshark security is internally audited by Cure53, which enhances its credibility and reliability for users. Additionally, the breach alert and antivirus for blocking malware and viruses in Surfshark make it an ideal choice to be used in Sri Lanka.
Moreover, all of Surfshark’s price packages are backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee and a Surfshark free trial for mobile users.
Learn the benefits of using Surfshark in Sri Lanka from our detailed Surfshark review.
- Unlimited device connections simultaneously
- Cheapest premium VPN service provider
- Strong security and privacy protection features
- Special antivirus and alert system
- Live chat and email support 24/7
- Drop in server speed reported occasionally
3. NordVPN – VPN with Largest Server Network to Unblock Social Media in Sri Lanka
NordVPN is known for offering the largest server network around the globe. It boasts a network of 6000 servers in 61 countries.
It comes with unique features for protecting the security and privacy of your network in Sri Lanka. It assigns you a dedicated and unique IP address to access sites in Sri Lanka.
These servers have ultra-fast performance for streaming content without buffering or lagging in Sri Lanka. It offers complete encrypted protection for all your devices, especially mobile phones, so you can use your favorite social media apps in Sri Lanka.
NordVPN helped us access Facebook and a few other censored chatting apps. It allowed us to connect 6 devices connections and simultaneously unblock restricted apps on all of these devices. The connection was stable throughout testing, and we could enjoy uninterrupted service while scrolling through Facebook in Sri Lanka.
We had no trouble accessing Facebook in Sri Lanka using NordVPN.
With NordVPN Threat Protection, you can stay safe from viruses, trackers, malicious sites, and infected files online. Meshnet allows you to connect to a private encrypted tunnel via any remote device in Sri Lanka. Its special Dark Web Monitor notifies you immediately after your credentials get leaked on the dark web.
NordVPN’s no logging policy preserves your privacy with the kill switch feature. NordVPN encrypts your IP and traffic twice with a Double VPN feature to guarantee double protection. Your identity and information remain hidden while using an internet connection in Sri Lanka. Its Onion routers provide anonymity on the network.
NordVPN allows you to shield your activities with private DNS. It offers Chrome, Edge, and Firefox browser extensions to access the internet in a private and protected environment using your favorite browser. NordVPN is one of the secure VPNs for social media blocked in Sri Lanka.
Learn everything about NordVPN in our detailed review compilation.
- Most extensive server network coverage around the world
- Unique security features and powerful encryption standards
- Ultra-fast servers ideal for streaming, torrenting, and browsing
- Double IP and traffic masking for extra-privacy protection in Sri Lanka
- Unblock all popular social media apps in Sri Lanka
- Desktop apps need refinement
How to bypass: Social Media Blocked in Sri Lanka
For secure access to social media in Sri Lanka, follow the steps given ahead:
- Choose a VPN provider for Sri Lanka. We specifically suggest ExpressVPN.
- Download and install the native apps from the official VPN websites or Google App Store for Android and Apple Store for iPhone users.
- Clear your cache and cookies to delete all traces of location identifiers. Make sure you restart your device.
- If you have already purchased a subscription, log in to the VPN app account. Choose a server outside Sri Lanka. We suggest choosing Western countries as these regions are mostly free from internet restrictions.
- Wait for the connection to establish. The successful connection is usually notified with a green sign on the VPN app. In mobile apps, you may find a VPN symbol on top of the screen, indicating successful connection establishment.
- Launch your browser or use your phone. Your ISP will no longer be able to find your VPN usage, while your VPN will unblock social media apps like WhatsApp, Viber, Facebook, and Instagram in Sri Lanka.
Social media apps get blocked in Sri Lanka for spreading hate speech and wrong messages online. In 2022, sites like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp were down in Sri Lanka amid a national emergency that troubled the users.
You must first decide on one VPN service provider to bypass social media blocks in Sri Lanka. We recommend going with any of the three VPNs we have added to this post above.
FAQs: Social Media Blocked in Sri Lanka
Is Instagram banned in Sri Lanka?
No, Instagram is not completely banned in Sri Lanka. However, social media apps like Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, Viber, etc., get temporarily banned in the country in response to protests against the authorities. These apps were blocked in April 2022 after the state declared an emergency following protests against the president and the administration body.
What websites are banned in Sri Lanka?
Many social media apps and sites were blocked in Sri Lanka after the public protests started in April 2022. The Sri Lankan government banned websites, including WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube, to curb the spread of hate speech in response to the economic crisis for 15 hours. The intention was to suppress anti-government regimes from rising and strengthening.
Does a free VPN help to unblock social media in Sri Lanka?
While a free VPN for Sri Lanka may offer some assistance in unblocking social media, it may not provide consistent and reliable access due to limited server options and potential speed limitations. Opting for a reputable paid VPN service can provide more reliable and efficient access to unblock social media platforms in Sri Lanka.
Why is WhatsApp not working in Sri Lanka?
WhatsApp has reportedly been banned in Sri Lanka several times in history. Recently, WhatsApp was banned for 15 hours by the government to stop anti-government protests. Back in 2018, the Sri Lankan government blocked WhatsApp when citizens tried to invoke religious violence against Sri Lanka’s Muslim minority. Facebook, WhatsApp, Viber, and Instagram were banned country-wide to limit hateful speech and raise violence.
Conclusion
Sri Lanka is amongst the countries with restricted access to social media platforms due to the prevailing political and national conditions. As a result, social media-addicted users struggle with accessing these apps. A reliable VPN can rescue Sri Lankan citizens and help them unblock their favorite social media sites.
We have addressed and discussed three VPN providers that can work best in Sri Lanka to bypass the strict internet blocks. We recommend using any one of the three, particularly ExpressVPN, to access your social accounts and stay connected to the world regardless of governmental movements.
Try ExpressVPN on a 7-day free trial on mobile phones or a 30-day money-back guarantee on all other platforms to forget about the “social media blocked in Sri Lanka” problem forever.
