Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka: Truce Ends, Terror Attacks Occur

Date: February 7th, 2008 |

Two attacks on civilians in recent days and other incidents prompted the U.S. Embassy in Colombo to strongly advise visitors to avoid traveling by bus or train throughout the country. On Feb. 3, 11 civilians were killed and 100 injured when a suicide bombing occurred in Colombo’s Fort Railway Station. The day before, a bomb [read more]

Sri Lanka: Travel to North and East Still Dangerous, Yala Wildlife Sanctuary Closed

Date: October 25th, 2007 |

No Comments

Travel to northern and eastern Sri Lanka remains risky because of ongoing conflict between the armed forces and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels. The government has controlled the eastern part of the country since July 2007, but some insurgents and paramilitary members remain active in the area and security cannot be guaranteed. The [read more]

Sri Lanka: New Tourist Police

Date: June 13th, 2007 |

No Comments

A joint effort by the Sri Lanka Tourist Board, the Tourism Ministry and the Police Department has reestablished a Tourist Police Division that will set up stations in key resorts around the country. The goal is to ensure that all tourists enjoy a hassle-free holiday. The tourist police will respond to visitor complaints but also [read more]

Sri Lanka: Clashes Continue while Peace Talks Resume

Date: October 24th, 2006 |

No Comments

Fighting between government forces and the Tamil Tigers has escalated in recent weeks, all but destroying the peace process that had held so much hope just a short time ago. Travel to the north and east remains risky. The U.S. State Department advises avoiding the area north of a line following the highway from Puttalam [read more]

Sri Lanka: Moving toward War Again?

Date: January 3rd, 2006 |

No Comments

A surge of violence in December has raised concerns that the almost-four-year-old cease-fire may come to an end and the country may slip back into war. Tamil Tiger rebels have killed 45 soldiers in recent ambushes, and the U.S. Embassy warned Americans about travel to the north and east, especially the Jaffna Peninsula, and all [read more]

Sri Lanka: Sliding Back into War?

Date: December 6th, 2007 |

No Comments

This tropical island nation appears to be spiraling down into civil war again as a cease-fire brokered by Norwegian negotiators in 2002 has deteriorated to the point of collapse and conflict is escalating. Tamil Tiger rebels have been confined to their stronghold in the north but struck Colombo, the capital city, with two suicide bombings [read more]

Sri Lanka: Wasps Sting Dozens of Tourists at Sigiriya

Date: September 5th, 2007 |

No Comments

The World Heritage Site of Sigiriya, which draws hundreds of thousands of visitors a year to see the 660-foot-high rock fortress known for its frescoes, is home to swarms of usually peaceful wasps who recently went on a frenzy, stinging dozens of tourists and prompting Sri Lankan military officers to sweep in to take at [read more]

Sri Lanka: Colombo Airport Closes at Night

Date: May 9th, 2007 |

No Comments

Colombo’s international airport will be closed at night from the hours of 10:30 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. for at least three months because of the threat of air raids by Tamil Tiger rebels. The separatist group that has been fighting the government for more than two decades has launched four nighttime air attacks on military [read more]

Sri Lanka: On the Brink of War

Date: June 20th, 2006 |

No Comments

Only 18 months after the tsunami disaster seemed to bring warring factions closer together, Sri Lanka appears again to be on the brink of civil war. Tamil Tiger rebels detonated land mines around a crowded bus June 15 killing 64 civilians in what represents their worst attack in years. What appeared to be reprisal killings [read more]

Sri Lanka

Date: May 3rd, 2005 |

No Comments

A train-bus accident on the road between Colombo and the popular hill city of Kandy killed 35 people and sparked demands to crack down on private bus companies. Competition is fierce and drivers often race each other to stops in an effort to get passengers. Bus accidents are a major problem, and officials also blame [read more]