UK advises against travel to Sri Lanka amid political instability

ANI
13 May 2022, 23:07 GMT+10

London [UK], May 13 (ANI): The UK has advised its citizens against traveling to Sri Lanka amid the ongoing political and economic instability.

"The FCDO advises against all but essential travel to Sri_Lanka, due to ongoing political and economic instability. This advice does not apply to airside transit through Sri Lanka's international airport," the UK Foreign, CommonwealthDevelopment Office (FCDO) said in a statement.

"If you are in Sri Lanka at this time, or considering travel, you should avoid all protests and follow the advice of local authorities," it added.

This comes as the State of Emergency has been declared and an island-wide curfew is in place. Several incidents took place on May 9 involving violence against protesters, including in the Galle Face area in Colombo, that resulted in the death of several people.

"There have been a number of protests since 31 March 2022. Further protests are likely to take place across the island. The Government of Sri Lanka may impose local restrictions at short notice. You should be vigilant, avoid any demonstrations or large gatherings, and follow the advice of the local authorities," the UK advisory said.

The economic situation is deteriorating in Sri Lanka with shortages of basic necessities including medicines, cooking gas, fuel and food because of a shortage of hard currency to pay for imports.

There may be long queues at shops and supermarkets, fuel stations, and pharmacies. There are ongoing daily power cuts due to electricity rationing. (ANI)

Watch latest videos

News RELEASES

Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to International Travel News.

More Information

null in null

Business

Section

Wall Street extends rally, Standard and Poor's 500 hits new high

NEW YORK, New York - U.S. stock markets closed firmly in positive territory to start the week Monday, with the S&P 500 and Dow Jones...

Canadian tax on US tech giants dropped after Trump fury

WASHINGTON, D.C.: On Friday, President Donald Trump announced that he was halting trade discussions with Canada due to its decision...

Trump-backed crypto project gets $100 million boost from UAE fund

LONDON, U.K.: A little-known investment fund based in the United Arab Emirates has emerged as the most prominent public backer of U.S....

DIY weight-loss drug trend surges amid high prices, low access

SAN FRANCISCO, California: Across the U.S., a growing number of people are taking obesity treatment into their own hands — literally....

Apple allows outside payment links under EU pressure

SAN FRANCISCO, California: Under pressure from European regulators, Apple has revamped its App Store policies in the EU, introducing...

Euro, pound surge as U.S. rate cut odds grow after Powell hint

NEW YORK CITY, New York: The U.S. dollar tumbled this week, hitting its lowest levels since 2021 against the euro, British pound, and...

Travel and Tourism

Section