UK reimposes advisory against non-essential travel to Sri Lanka
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has reinstated its advisory against all but essential travel to Sri Lanka, just under a month after it relaxed its previous travel advice
The department has warned that shortages of ‘basic necessities’, such as a fuel, medicines and food, were becoming increasingly acute in Sri Lanka, following weeks of unrest in the country.
"Sri Lanka is experiencing a severe economic crisis which has led to shortages of basic necessities including medicines, cooking gas, fuel and food," said the FCDO on 5 July. "There is a major shortage of fuel [diesel and petrol] affecting transport, businesses, and emergency services. There are daily power cuts due to electricity rationing. This has led to protests and violent unrest.”
The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority has partnered with the country’s ministry of tourism to provide emergency assistance for ‘commuting and arriving guests’, such as fuel.
The FCDO previously imposed a similar advisory against travel to the island nation in mid-May, alongside similar moves by other countries. However, it later relaxed this previous advisory on 10 June. The new advisory therefore represents another U-turn for the UK government’s response to the ongoing crisis.