What the record shows for Sri Lanka
Over the last 20 years, USGS has catalogued 1 earthquake of magnitude 4 or greater within 300 km of Sri Lanka - about one every 10 years. That rate describes how often the ground moves enough to be recorded, not how often damage occurs; most of these are never felt.
The NOAA NCEI database records 1 tsunami within 300 km of Sri Lanka (most recently 1882). The most significant was in 1882 near Sri Lanka.
Sources: USGS earthquake catalog, NOAA tsunami database, and the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. Figures update as the catalogs are revised.
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Sri Lanka is relatively stable but experiences occasional minor earthquakes and felt offshore activity.
The only real protection is a warning the moment the ground moves - which is exactly what the free QuakeMate app gives you, along with tsunami and volcano alerts for Sri Lanka.
Earthquake risk in Sri Lanka - FAQ
Is Sri Lanka at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 1 quake every 10 years nearby of magnitude 4+ within 300 km, based on the last 20 years of USGS data.
What was the biggest earthquake in Sri Lanka?
We don't have a standout large earthquake on record close to Sri Lanka in the modern catalog, though smaller quakes can still occur.
Does Sri Lanka get tsunamis?
Yes - 1 tsunami since 1882 (most recently 1882) within 300 km, from the NOAA database.
How do I get earthquake warnings in Sri Lanka?
Download the free QuakeMate app for iPhone. It watches your location and sends a real-time push the instant a quake strikes nearby, plus tsunami and volcano alerts, with custom magnitude and distance rules. On Android, join the waitlist.