US rescinds security alert on Arugam Bay
COLOMBO – The US Embassy in Colombo on Wednesday (13) lifted travel restrictions issued for Arugam Bay on October 23, telling US citizens to “Trust your gut”.
“The US Embassy in Colombo encourages all US citizens to review the Travel Advisory for Sri Lanka, maintain vigilance, be aware of your surroundings and report suspicious activity and emergencies to local authorities (119),” the Embassy said on Wednesday.
It advised US nationals to report all suspicious activity and emergencies to local authorities (119), to always maintain vigilance and be aware of their surroundings, trust their gut and get out of a situation if it doesn’t feel right, always have some form of communication on this (i.e. cell phone) and monitor local media for news and updates.
The US embassy on October 23, asked nationals to avoid Arugam Bay on Sri Lanka’s South-eastern Coast, a popular tourist destination, saying there was credible information of an attack.
The area had seen an influx of Israeli visitors of late.
The governments of Australia, the United Kingdom, Russia, New Zealand and Israel followed in warning their citizens of a possible attack on Arugam Bay.
Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement issued on Wednesday said the US embassy had lifted the security alert on the Arugam Bay area, following close collaboration with the ministry and the immediate and extensive security measures put in place by the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Public Security and related agencies.
It said Sri Lanka takes any security alert seriously, and accordingly, the authorities had promptly implemented a series of coordinated security measures in the area to safeguard tourists, foreigners and residents against any possible threat.
“Detailed instructions were given by Sri Lanka Police to maintain security in the Arugam Bay area while emphasizing the importance of safeguarding the freedom of tourists,” the statement said, noting that the residents of the concerned areas as well as owners of tourist establishments and all persons engaged in the field of tourism had cooperated closely with the Sri Lanka Police in these efforts.
It also noted that Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath together with all related defence and public security agencies, had briefed the heads of Diplomatic Missions directly concerned, regarding the extensive measures by the Sri Lankan authorities, and urged the removal of the security alert and related travel advisories.
-ENCL
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