By Chanaka de Silva
Colombo, February 9 – The recent deaths of two foreigners, one a UK national Ebony McIntosh (24) and another a German national Nadine Raguse (26) at the Miracle City Hostel located at 103, Muhandiram Lane Colombo 3, could have been prevented if they had been taken to a hospital sooner. Shockingly, one of the survivors revealed that they did not seek medical assistance because they lacked travel insurance, unaware that Sri Lanka’s government hospitals provide free medical treatment to both locals and foreigners alike.
This critical information, which could have saved their lives, was never effectively communicated to them by the Sri Lankan tourism authorities or any official source. The sheer ignorance of this fact raises serious concerns about Sri Lanka Tourism’s failure to inform visitors about life-saving healthcare services readily available at any of the 555 government hospitals island-wide.
Criminal Negligence: A Failure That Cost Lives
Had the European tourists known that they could receive medical care without requiring insurance, their lives might have been spared. The hostel where they were staying was a mere 2.5 km away from Colombo General Hospital, yet the lack of awareness about free healthcare led them to suffer in silence instead of seeking timely medical attention.
This tragic incident highlights an appalling oversight on the part of Sri Lanka’s tourism authorities, whose duty should include ensuring that vital safety information is communicated effectively to incoming travelers. The failure to provide such a basic yet life-saving piece of information can only be described as criminal negligence.
With Sri Lanka’s tourism industry being one of the country’s primary economic pillars, authorities should be taking every possible measure to protect visitors. Instead, this case has exposed major gaps in both information dissemination and accommodation safety regulations, proving that unchecked negligence is costing lives.
Toxic Exposure: Another Layer of Neglect
Reports suggest that the cause of the tragedy may have been exposure to toxic chemicals used to eradicate bedbugs at the hostel. If true, this raises yet another question, why had the hostel not followed proper safety procedures? Legally, all establishments using such chemicals must adhere to strict safety guidelines, yet in this instance, those precautions seem to have been ignored, further endangering guests.
This is one of the most severe tourist-related incidents in Sri Lanka since the 2004 tsunami, highlighting urgent issues in the monitoring and regulation of accommodation providers. With tourism being one of the country’s biggest economic drivers, protecting tourists should be a top priority.
Police investigations have uncovered that adjacent rooms were sprayed with a toxic chemical, identified as phosphine gas, on January 30, 2025. This alarming revelation highlights the urgent need for government authorities to strictly regulate the use of hazardous chemicals in such establishments. To prevent similar incidents, health and safety officials must adhere to guidelines and crack down on any facility that provides accommodation.
Sri Lanka Tourism Responds – But Is It Too Late?
Speaking on the matter, Sri Lanka Tourism Chairman Buddhika Hewawasam admitted that efforts had been made to publicize the availability of free medical treatment but regretted that the information had not been effectively disseminated.
“We regret that this vital information did not reach these tourists in time. We will now take it upon ourselves to ensure that this type of incident never happens again. We do care, and we will do everything necessary to safeguard those visiting Sri Lanka,” he stated.
However, reactive measures are no substitute for proactive responsibility. This tragedy is a stark reminder that better safety regulations, awareness campaigns, and stricter oversight of tourist accommodations are urgently needed if Sri Lanka wants to truly protect the industry that sustains its economy.
