Press release

Travel advice to Sri Lanka updated

The Foreign Office is advising against all but essential travel to Sri Lanka.

This was published under the 2016 to 2019 May Conservative government
Soldiers standing at a checkpoint on a street in Colombo

Soldiers take up their positions at a checkpoint on a street in Colombo on 25 April 2019, following a series of bomb blasts targeting churches and luxury hotels on the Easter Sunday in Sri Lanka. (Photo credit: JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)

The Foreign Office has changed its travel advice to Sri Lanka to advise against all but essential travel, in light of the ongoing security operation and heightened risk of terrorism in Sri Lanka following the attacks on Easter Sunday.

Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said:

Following the horrific attacks on Easter Sunday, and the ongoing Sri Lankan security operation, I have received updated advice from the Foreign Office and decided to update the travel advice to British nationals to Sri Lanka to advise against all but essential travel.

We will keep this decision under close and constant review. My first priority will always be the security of British citizens living and travelling abroad.

We all hope the situation will return to normal very soon, and that the Sri Lankan tourism industry is able to get back on its feet following the terrorist attacks. We will do all we can to help the Sri Lankan authorities.

View the updated travel advice for Sri Lanka.

Anyone who was impacted by the attacks, including witnesses and families of victims, can access online and telephone support through any of the organisations listed in Helplines and support for victims of terrorism.

Background

The Foreign Secretary made a statement in the House of Commons on Tuesday following the Sri Lanka attacks.

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Published 25 April 2019