|
|
|
Wednesday, August 04, 2010 - 5.30 GMT |
|
UK joins US in
lifting last remaining travel restrictions
in SL |
|
|
|
A statement issued by the British High Commission in Colombo announced that the UK Government has removed its advice against travel to Sri Lanka’s four northern districts of Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi, Mannar, and Vavuniya, the last to be freed of LTTE terrorism last year.
The decision came following a security assessment led by Deputy High Commissioner Mark Gooding, who visited the Northern provinces in June and drew positive conclusions from the positive action being taken towards security and reconciliation by the Sri Lankan Government. The USA removed its advisory travel restrictions in May.
The British Ambassador in Colombo Peter Hayes said in a statement: "This latest change means we no longer advise against travel to any part of Sri Lanka.”
The ending of restrictive travel advice is a welcome development for the growing Sri Lankan tourism sector, which has experienced a near 50% increase in visitor numbers this year.
Sri Lanka’s rich culture and diverse natural beauty have attracted 279,000 tourists so far this year, of which nearly 45,000 came from the UK. It is expected that the newly announced decision by the British Government will further increase the numbers of tourists visiting the island. The Sri Lankan Government has already declared 2011 ‘Visit Sri Lanka’ year.
A Sri Lankan Government spokesman said, “This decision marks yet another indication of the return to peace in Sri Lanka following the end of our 30 year war against terrorism. Other recent positive developments include the lifting of travel restrictions from the US State Department in May and Sri Lanka’s removal from the Lloyd’s Joint Cargo Watch List in July.
“The Sri Lankan Government has undertaken a range of actions since the end of the conflict including the scaling back of emergency regulations as well as tailored development initiatives specifically targeting the north of the island, to ensure security, normality and prosperity return to these beautiful regions of our island as soon as possible.”
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contact Information:: Send
mail to