Sri Lanka Travel Advisory
Consular Division
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND

SRI LANKA

Revised 26 March 2007

There is an extreme risk to your security in the northern and eastern areas of Sri Lanka due to the fighting between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the Sri Lankan authorities. The northern area encompasses all areas north of the A12 road that runs from Puttalam in the west to Trincomalee in the east, including the Jaffna peninsula. The eastern area comprises the Batticaloa and Trincomalee districts as well as the coastal areas of the Ampara district north of Panama and east of the A25 and A27 roads. That includes the town of Ampara and Arugam Bay.

Elsewhere in Sri Lanka, there is high risk to your security as the situation is unpredictable. We advise against tourist and non-essential travel. In the capital, Colombo, bomb attacks caused deaths and injuries on 8 and 14 August 2006. In early January 2007, there were bombs on buses between Colombo and Kandy and Colombo and Galle. You should avoid areas where there are Sri Lankan military bases and where the military are operating, eg convoys, patrols. Be security conscious. Keep yourself updated on the situation by monitoring local media and follow any instructions issued by local authorities and security forces. The state of emergency declared by the government on 13 August 2005 remains in effect.

Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo was closed on 26 March 2007 following an attack on the military base next to the airport. New Zealand travellers are advised to contact their airline or travel agent for the latest information on air services into Colombo. Flights may be diverted to The Maldives or India.

New Zealanders travelling to or resident in Sri Lanka should have comprehensive medical and travel insurance policies that include provision for medical evacuation by air.

New Zealanders in Sri Lanka are encouraged to record their details with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade www.safetravel.govt.nz

See our regional advice for South Asia

The New Zealand High Commission, New Delhi, India, is accredited to Sri Lanka

ENDS

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