How can women avoid unwanted attention in Sri Lanka?

I WOULD LIKE TO SPEND TWO TO THREE WEEKS TRAVELLING AROUND SRI LANKA IN SEPTEMBER WITH MY 11 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER. I HAVE HEARD THAT WOMEN TRAVELLERS MAY RECEIVE UNWANTED ATTENTION. MY DAUGHTER IS WELL TRAVELLED AND MATURE FOR HER AGE. CAN YOU RECOMMEND A TOUR THAT WE CAN JOIN?

H. HIGH, ANNANDALE

Although single women travellers commonly report harassment in Sri Lanka, a mother with daughter commands respect, particularly if they dress in a way that does not invite attention. That means long, loose pants and a loose fitting shirt or t-shirt.

"Attention" in the context of Sri Lanka usually means annoyingly persistent conversation and constant requests for photos together. I'm told that Sri Lankan women are known to use a sari pin to fend off unwanted advances.

A guided tour will certainly provide a high level of insulation and there are plenty of tours that you might join depending on how much you want to spend. From the top shelf, Australian-based Seven Skies (sevenskies.com) operates a 14-day tour of the island and it's five-star all the way, with wildlife, scenery, food and cultural experiences for the travel connoisseur and accommodation chosen for its unique character.

Less expensive options include Bunnik Tours (bunniktours.com.au) 8-day Essence of Sri Lanka Tours, which is an independent rather than a group tour, designed for couples and families, with a driver/guide and private vehicle. This could be combined with Bunnik's 5-day Sri Lanka Beach Stay to fill up the rest of your holiday time.

Another option is Peregrine Adventures (peregrineadventures.com) 15-day Treasures of Sri Lanka, another independent trip with bike rides through villages and mid-level hikes on the itinerary.