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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 133550 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: CASC PTER ASEC CE
SUBJECT: TRAVEL WARNING - SRI LANKA 
 
¶1. The Department of State warns American citizens 
traveling to or living in Sri Lanka about the continuing 
danger of terrorist attacks throughout the country. This 
replaces the Travel Warning for Sri Lanka dated June 13, 
2008 and highlights changes in locations of security 
concerns, and notes recent terrorist attacks. 
 
¶2. The Department of State urges American citizens to 
evaluate carefully the risks of travel to Sri Lanka and 
specifically warns Americans against travel to the 
Northern Province and most of the Eastern Province of Sri 
Lanka.  All of the Northern Province remains dangerous. 
In Anuradhapura District of the North Central Province, 
the areas north of Medawachchiya, the A14 road, and the 
road from Medawachchiya and Horowupatna are dangerous. 
Non-official travel by U.S. Government personnel to the 
Eastern Province, other than the A6 road corridor and 
Trincomalee Town in Trincomalee District, and areas in 
Ampara District south of the A4 road and west of Maha 
Oya, is prohibited. 
 
¶3. Since early January 2008, fighting between the Sri 
Lankan military, paramilitary groups and the Liberation 
Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) has increased, and bomb 
explosions in densely populated areas have killed dozens 
of civilians, including in some areas frequented by 
foreign tourists.  Although there is no specific 
indication that American citizens or institutions have 
been targeted, there is a heightened risk of American 
citizens becoming victims of violence just by being in 
the wrong place at the wrong time.   American citizens 
who decide to travel to Sri Lanka despite this Travel 
Warning should be aware of their personal surroundings 
and follow prudent security practices.  Americans should 
avoid large crowds and public gatherings and should 
particularly avoid political rallies, military bases, and 
government and military vehicle convoys, which are 
frequent targets of LTTE attacks.  Americans are also 
strongly advised against using public transportation in 
Sri Lanka, as civilian buses and trains have increasingly 
been the targets of terrorist bomb attacks in recent 
months. U.S. Government personnel are currently 
prohibited from using these modes of transportation. 
 
¶4. Recent incidents include an October 28, 2008 LTTE 
aircraft attack that damaged the main power plant in 
Colombo, and a suicide bombing on October 6, 2008 that 
killed 28 civilians and injured 80 at the opening of a 
political party office in Anuradhapura. 
 
¶5. On June 6, 2008, 22 civilians were killed and 70 
injured by an anti-personnel mine aimed at a passenger 
bus in Colombo.  The same day, two people were killed by 
another anti-personnel mine detonated in a passenger bus 
in Kandy.  On May 31, 2008, a grenade attack on a bus 
stop in Wellawatta killed two people and wounded 10. On 
May 26, nine civilians were killed and 84 injured in a 
train bombing in Dehiwala. On February 3, 2008, 14 
civilians were killed and approximately 100 were injured 
when a suicide attacker detonated an explosive device 
inside the main railway station in Colombo.  The same 
day, seven were injured when a grenade was detonated at 
the Dehiwala Zoo in Colombo.  On February 2, 2008, a bomb 
on a bus from Kandy, headed for Anuradhapura, exploded in 
Dambulla and killed 18 civilians and injured over 50. 
 
¶6. Americans are also advised to avoid government 
buildings, military installations, and government vehicle 
convoys.  On January 8, 2008, a government minister was 
killed and several persons were injured when his vehicle 
was attacked on the road between Colombo's international 
 
STATE 00133550  002 OF 002 
 
 
airport and central Colombo.  In 2007, the LTTE also 
attacked an Army camp in Yala National Sanctuary, and the 
Katunayake Air Force Base in Colombo was attacked by LTTE 
aircraft, causing brief suspension of operations at the 
adjacent Bandaranaike International Airport.  Foreign 
tourists were not specifically targeted in these attacks 
and none were injured. 
 
¶7. While the government has effectively controlled the 
eastern part of the country since July 2007, security in 
much of the Eastern Province is not yet assured. Some 
LTTE members and larger numbers of armed paramilitary 
members are active in the area, leading to instability 
and incidents of violence.  This situation is likely to 
continue for some time.  Americans are particularly 
warned against travel to LTTE-controlled areas in the 
north, which may pose severe hazards. 
 
¶8. Americans should comply with all instructions from 
security forces and police when traveling in Sri Lanka. 
American citizens, including those of Sri Lankan origin, 
whether living in Sri Lanka or traveling there even for 
only a few days, are strongly urged to register with the 
Embassy.  Registration will allow the embassy to provide 
direct information on the security situation as 
necessary.  Registration is done on-line and can be done 
in advance of travel at 
https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/. Information 
on registering can also be found at the Embassy website: 
http://srilanka.usembassy.gov or at the Department of 
State's Consular Affairs website: 
http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/registrat ion/registra 
tion_1186.html. 
 
¶9. The U.S. Embassy is located at 210 Galle Road, Colombo 
3, Sri Lanka. The Embassy's telephone number during 
normal business hours Monday through Friday is (94) (11) 
249 8500. The after-hours emergency telephone number is 
(94) (11) 249 8888. The Consular Section fax number is 
(94) (11)-249 8590. The Embassy's web site is 
http://srilanka.usembassy.gov/. The Consular Section has 
a specific email address dedicated to American Citizens 
Services at ColomboACS@state.gov. The general email 
address for the consular section is 
consularcolombo@state.gov. The Embassy in Colombo also 
covers the Republic of Maldives. 
 
¶10. As the Department continues to develop information on 
any potential security threats to U.S. citizens overseas, 
it shares credible threat information through its 
consular information documents, including the Worldwide 
Caution, available on the Internet at 
http://travel.state.gov.  In addition to information on 
the Internet, travelers may obtain up-to-date information 
on security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll- 
free in the U.S. and Canada or, outside the U.S. and 
Canada, on a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These 
numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern 
Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal 
holidays). 
RICE