UK relaxes Sri Lanka travel advice issued after attacks

Britain yesterday relaxed its travel advice on Sri Lanka after earlier warning against “all but essential travel” following the April terror attacks that claimed more than 250 lives. “If you’re visiting or resident in Sri Lanka, you should continue to remain vigilant and keep up to date with developments,” the Foreign Office said on its website.

Tourists were still warned that “terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks. “Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by foreigners,” it said. Over 250,000 Britons visited Sri Lanka in 2018, making it the third-highest source of tourism behind India and China, with the two countries retaining strong links since Sri Lanka became independent of colonial rule in 1948.