(COLOMBO, LANKAPUVATH) – Many countries in several parts of the world have relaxed their travel restrictions issued on Sri Lanka following the Easter Sunday bomb attacks, Government Information Department said.
Considering the prevailing security conditions China first amended their travel advisories on Sri Lanka. Following China, several countries including India, Switzerland, Germany, and Sweden have eased restrictions imposed on traveling to the island.
While relaxing their travel advisories, India cautioned its citizens to exercise vigilance when traveling to Sri Lanka.
Updating its travel advisory, the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) advised its travelers to be very vigilant about their personal safety. However, the advisory cautioned that there is a risk of terrorist attacks throughout the country.
Ambassador of Switzerland to Sri Lanka, Hanspeter Mock on Tuesday said that Switzerland no longer is advising to avoid unnecessary travel to Sri Lanka. However, he said that travelers should maintain a high level of personal security during their stay here.
However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the United Arab Emirates has urged Emiratis to postpone their current travel plans to Sri Lanka due to the security situation.
Several countries advised their citizens against non-essential travel to Sri Lanka after the terror attacks on three luxury hotels and three churches on April 21 that killed 258 people, including 47 foreigners.
Both President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in separate meetings with the resident diplomats assured that the security situation has improved in the country after the crackdown on Islamist groups and their networks and requested to lift the travel warnings on Sri Lanka as the tourism industry in the country took a direct hit from the Easter Sunday attacks.
