Five countries issue travel ban on Sri Lanka

The country’s tourism sector, which is already in dire straits, was dealt yet another severe blow after at least five countries issued strict advisories against their citizens travelling to the war-torn island, owing to the prevailing fear psychosis.Australia, Germany, the United Kingdom, Canada and Russia late last week updated their travel warnings in the backdrop of back-to-back bomb blasts and other sporadic violence-related incidents occurring in almost all parts of the country. Some of the countries which warned their citizens against travelling to Sri Lanka were the main sources of tourism to the island.The British warning, issued on January 18, has warned its nationals of a high threat from terrorism in Sri Lanka and emphasised that the attacks could be indiscriminate and have occurred in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers, including in and around Colombo.The updated advisory also warned its citizens against all travel to the north and east of Sri Lanka. Germany has also cautioned its citizens against travelling to Sri Lanka. Meanwhile, Canada in its advisory issued also on Friday advised against non-essential travel to Sri Lanka unless the visitors had critical business or family reasons to do so.The Foreign Affairs and International Trade of Canada noted that incidents of violence could occur without notice throughout the entire country and were not restricted to the north and east of Sri Lanka.“Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada advises against all travel to areas in the east and north of the country, including Kilinochchi, Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Ampara Districts, the Jaffna peninsula, Mannar and Vavuniya. Canadians currently in these regions should leave if it is safe to do so,” the warning said.Australia, in its warning issued on January 17, advised its citizens to reconsider their need to travel to Sri Lanka at this time because of ongoing civil unrest, the volatile security situation and the very high risk of terrorist attacks.Russia in a recommendation to its citizens requested them to refrain from trips to Sri Lanka in the wake of growing violent incidents in the nation.“In the light of it, the Foreign Ministry recommends Russian citizens to refrain from trips to Sri Lanka until the situation in that country returns to normal,” the advisory said.