Sri Lanka: Overview

Travel Warning: Tamil Tensions - Suicide Bombing - Monsoon Season

Fighting between the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE (Tamil Tiger) faction, and the breakdown of their ceasefire agreement in January, has resulted in renewed violence this year. The commander of Sri Lanka's military claims that the Tamil Tiger resistance is crumbling, however fighting continues; more than 30 Tamil Tiger rebels and six Sri Lankan soldiers were killed in clashes on June 22. Travellers should stay well clear of the Jaffna, Mannar, Welioya, Vavuniya regions.

A suicide bombing on June 16 killed 12 people and injured many in the country's northern town Vavuniya. Reports indicate a man on a motorcycle detonated the bomb in front of the town's police station, 250 km (120mi) from Colombo.

It's monsoon season in Sri Lanka, and the southern part of the country has already been badly affected. At least 13 people have been killed by floods and landslides, and 100,000 have been forced to leave their homes. More heavy rain is forecast in coming weeks. Travellers should be aware that transport services may be disrupted in the districts of Kalutara, Galle, Gampaha, Rathnapura and Mathara.

On 16 January a bomb attack on a crowded civilian bus in Buttala killed at least 26 people and injured many more. On 4 February, another bus was targeted near the town of Anuradhapura, resulting in at least 13 deaths; and on 2 February a bus in Dambulla was bombed, causing 18 fatalities. In April, a suicide bomb attack near Colombo killed some 14 people and seriously injured more than 90.

Areas north of a line following the highway from Puttalam through Anuradhapura to Trincomalee, and east down to Batticaloa are unsafe for travellers as are the eastern areas around Ampara and Arugam Bay. Any travel to these areas should be reconsidered. The security situation in the Jaffna Peninsula remains especially volatile, with heavy fighting between the Sri Lankan army and Tamil Tiger rebels ongoing. Parts of these northern and eastern areas are heavily mined.

For further updates check this Safe Travel site.

The rest of the country is also at risk of attack. The capital, Colombo , has experienced a number of bombings over the last few months. Most recently, on 26 May, a peak-hour commuter train in Colombo was bombed, causing eight deaths and more than 70 injuries. On 3 February, a suicide bomber killed at least 11 people and injured nearly 100 at Colombo's main train station, while an explosion killed at least 16 civilians in a busy shopping district on 28 November. Travellers should exercise extreme caution, monitor local news sources and heed any local warnings regarding safety.

severity: Extreme Danger