‘The economic situation is deteriorating’: Britain issues travel warning on Sri Lanka
COLOMBO – As Sri Lanka’s economy continues to crater the British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, in its travel advisory for Sri Lanka has highlighted the country’s deteriorating economic situation, warning prospective travellers of long queues at grocery stores gas stations and pharmacies and power outages.
The advisory, issued on March 7 and updated on Sunday (13) with the economic situation, sates, “The economic situation is deteriorating in Sri Lanka with shortages of basic necessities including medicines, fuel and food because of a shortage of hard currency to pay for imports. There may be long queues at grocery stores, gas stations, and pharmacies. Local authorities may impose the rationing of electricity, resulting in power outages” the statement reads.
The advisory follows a similar warning by Canadian authorities who urged travellers to “exercise a high degree of caution”.
The British advisory also warned its citizens of dengue fever occurring throughout the country, and of severe weather including tropical cyclones and monsoon rains.
It also warned terrorists were likely to try to carry out indiscriminate attacks in Sri Lanka, including in places visited by foreigners, highlighting the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks targeting churches and hotels, killing more than 250 people, including tourists.
-ENCL