续上：
Then we come to the possible consequences of having an accident. The risk of this is obviously much higher for someone driving in SL. I was lucky and got away with only a couple of minor incidents but on one of these, which basically was being clipped by a bus, I had to spend ages at a police station and revisiting the scene of the accident in order to get a 'note of first report' required by the hire company for insurance purposes. Without this I would have been charged for the damage to the vehicle. However, there are much more sinister outcomes in accidents which result in injury to persons. Then things can turn very nasty indeed. I was once turned back by the police on the outskirts of Colombo where a large traffic jam had built up after someone was knocked down on a pedestrian crossing. Locals had come out and were stoning cars on the road - the main highway to Kandy. I've heard reports of horrific reprisals taking place in rural areas after accidents. Do not think that as a foreigner you would be immune to this.
Given that self drive is no cheaper than a car with driver, is there really a reason for driving yourself? If there is, does it outweigh the possible complications I have outlined above? You may say, I’d rather trust my own driving ability than risk some lunatic local driver and there are quite a few in SL. My answer to this is make sure you get a recommended driver (DEs can do this) or, if it is an agency, check if they have a drivers' code. In extreme cases where you feel uncomfortable with a driver who will not modify his driving style when you complain then simply refuse to travel any further with him. I have had drivers who speed and overtake unsafely but find that in most cases they will adjust their driving if you point out to them what you are concerned about. Afraid you just have to put up with the never using first gear and constant on-off, on-off the accelerator pedal which some drivers think improves fuel efficiency- it is not life threatening.
If you still decide to go ahead with self drive, you will need not only an international driving licence but also a Sri Lankan driving permit which can be obtained from the AA in Colombo. Some hirers will do this for you but more waiting around whilst they do so.
Whatever you decide to do, good luck and enjoy your holiday in Sri Lanka. It is a beautiful country, with beautiful people, in my opinion much better enjoyed without the hassles of driving.

看看下文，绝对值得想去斯里兰卡自驾的人再考虑一下：
SELF DRIVING IN SRI LANKA

As one who has done lots of self drive in SL in the past, I would very much endorse what has been written in the previous posts. My reasons for favoring self drive were that it gave me greater flexibility. As a former resident of Sri Lanka, I knew the roads and driving conditions quite well and as most of my holiday trips involved visiting friends rather than the usual tourist activities it was much easier not to be concerned about a driver, who would need accommodation and meals etc, - not so easy when you are visiting someone's house.
So why did I stop driving? There are a number of reasons:
First and foremost the difficulty of getting a decent hire vehicle that was well maintained and roadworthy. Hire companies are reluctant to hire out their best vehicles to visitors who have little or no experience of driving in SL. Vehicles are in any case much older and less well maintained than they would be in the UK. Common problems are bald tyres, non- functioning seat belts and lights, worn out suspension and loose steering because of the road conditions. On one occasions I had a car which was described by a garage as a bomb on wheels due to a leaking petrol tank onto the exhaust pipe. A number of times I had to reject vehicles and get involved in lengthy negotiations for a replacement. One of the worst cars I was offered came from the local agent of a very well know international car hire organization. Cars also broke down, meaning I had to wait around to get them repaired or for another vehicle to be sent. This is hardly what you want when time is limited.
My second reason for stopping self drive is that, over the years, driving conditions have deteriorated in SL as the amount of traffic on the road has increased. The result of this has been to make driving very tiring and stressful. All the hazards of driving in a country like Sri Lanka mean that you must maintain a very high level of concentration when driving which is quite exhausting. On holiday do you really want this? In addition, finding your way around is not easy. Yes, there are better road maps these days but road signage is very poor or non-existent outside the city areas. If you do not speak Sinhala, you can forget about asking for directions. If you do speak Sinhala ask two different people for directions and you will get three different answers. I have to say that I got lost on numerous occasions and I am sure ended up doing a much greater mileage than necessary.