Western govts. warn against travel to SL

The Australian government has upgraded its travel advisory for its citizens advising them not to travel to Sri Lanka in the wake of the recent attacks in Habarana and Galle while Britain and the US too have warned of further possible attacks.

The Australian travel advisory said that recent reports indicated that terrorists may be planning suicide attacks against the headquarters of the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) in Colombo and the main SLAF fighter wing at Bandaranaike International Airport.

“We have received reports that truck bomb attacks in Colombo may be imminent,” the advisory said adding that the. Australian High Commission staff was adopting heightened security measures, including restricting travel to locations that may be potential targets and curtailing all non-essential travel in response to this threat.

Recent credible reports indicate that further attacks in Colombo and elsewhere in Sri Lanka are being planned for between August and November 2006, it said.

The UK too upgraded its travel advisory after the recent attacks saying there was an increasing risk of British nationals and other foreigners being caught up in terrorist attacks.

“These attacks are not confined to the north and east. Recent attacks have also taken place in central and southern Sri Lanka.” it said.

The US Embassy too advised its citizens to defer travel to Galle after the attack there.

In a message posted on the Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) website, the Embassy said Americans should also be aware of the increased possibility of communal violence both in Galle and in other parts of the country.

Americans should avoid military installations, military convoys travelling on the roads and where possible, Government buildings, as they have in the past been targets for LTTE violence, it said.