US issues revised travel advisory on Sri Lanka

Bureau of Consular Affairs of the US State Department has issued an updated travel advisory for their citizens in Sri Lanka to reflect the impact of the country’s economic and political challenges on travellers.

The travel advisory said there may be terrorist attacks with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets, shopping malls, government facilities, hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, parks, major sporting and cultural events, educational institutions, airports, hospitals, and other public areas.

It warned travellers that the US Government has limited ability to provide emergency services to US citizens in remote areas. 

The travel advisory said public transportation in some instances has been limited or curtailed. It urged travellers to monitor local media for updates on the ongoing situation.

The travel advisory also states that Sri Lanka is experiencing shortages of fuel and cooking gas as well as some medicines and essential food items, due to the ongoing economic situation.

It said there have recently been protests over the economic situation and queues at filling stations, grocery stores, and some pharmacies.

The State Department said protests have occurred throughout the country and have mostly been peaceful, while in some instances, police have used water cannons and tear gas to disperse protesters.

It said there have also been daily scheduled power cuts across the country, as well as some unplanned power cuts, since fuel for backup generators is increasingly scarce.