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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 119719 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: CASC PTER ASEC CE
SUBJECT: TRAVEL WARNING - SRI LANKA 
 
STATE 00119719  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1. The Department of State warns U.S. citizens about the 
risks of travel to Sri Lanka due to continued security 
concerns, especially in the northernmost areas and most 
of its Eastern Province, as there are still uncleared 
landmines and potential for incidents by remnant members 
of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). 
Stability in the southern and western areas of the 
country has improved with the cessation of hostilities. 
The Department of State urges U.S. citizens to remain 
vigilant while traveling in Sri Lanka.  This replaces the 
Travel Warning for Sri Lanka dated June 26, 2009 to 
update information on safety concerns in specific regions 
of the country, and potential problems for U.S. citizen 
travelers. 
 
¶2.  On May 19, 2009, after more than 25 years of 
conflict, the Sri Lankan government defeated the LTTE, a 
designated Foreign Terrorist Organization.  The Sri 
Lankan government still restricts travel in the Northern 
Province.  The U.S. Embassy restricts travel for its 
employees to the northernmost areas as well as most parts 
of the Eastern Province for other than official business. 
Consular services to U.S. citizens in these areas will be 
delayed.  Both regions were previously the primary areas 
under LTTE control, and remnants of LTTE may still exist. 
Areas to the north also contain uncleared landmines and 
demining activity continues.  Other post-conflict hazards 
may be present as well.  A large number of Internally 
Displaced Persons camps are located throughout the 
northern area and are a sensitive concern to the local 
authorities. 
 
¶3.  U.S. citizens are advised to defer all travel to the 
Northern Province and the northernmost areas of the North 
Central Province, as defined by the A14 road, Medawachiya 
town, and the road from Medawachchiya to Horowupatna. 
The U.S. Embassy restricts non-official travel by U.S. 
government personnel to the Eastern Province, other than 
the A6 road corridor and Trincomalee Town (including as 
far north as Nilaveli and as far south as China Bay) and 
areas in Ampara District south of the A4 road and west of 
Maha Oya. 
 
¶4.  While no LTTE incidents have occurred since the end 
of the war, the Sri Lankan government's security posture 
remains heightened with increased armed checkpoints 
throughout the country.  Sri Lankan authorities continue 
to find hidden caches of military grade weapons in the 
formerly disputed areas.  U.S. citizens are advised 
against travel on public buses in Sri Lanka, as they were 
previously targets of LTTE bomb attacks and remain 
targets of criminal activity; U.S. embassy personnel in 
Sri Lanka are currently prohibited from traveling by 
public bus.  Demonstrations at or near Western embassies 
have also increased in frequency, often with inadequate 
police response for crowd control. 
 
¶5.  U.S. citizens of Sri Lankan origin may be subject to 
additional scrutiny upon arrival and while in the 
country.  In some cases, foreigners of Sri Lankan origin 
may be detained without their embassies being notified. 
The activities of journalists, researchers, aid workers, 
and volunteers receive particular attention. 
 
¶6.  U.S. citizens living or traveling in Sri Lanka should 
be aware of their personal surroundings and follow 
prudent security practices.  There is no indication that 
U.S. citizens or institutions were, or currently are, 
specific targets, but U.S. citizens risk becoming victims 
by being in the wrong place at the wrong time.  They 
 
STATE 00119719  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
should particularly avoid political rallies, military 
bases, military or police convoys, and high security 
zones.  U.S. citizens, including those of Sri Lankan 
origin, are urged to register with the Embassy via the 
State Department travel registration page at 
https://travelregistration.state.gov/.  The Embassy's 
contact information is: 
 
U.S. Embassy Colombo 
210 Galle Road 
Colombo 03 
Sri Lanka 
Telephone: +94 11 249 8500 
Emergency after-hours telephone: +94 11 249 8888 
Fax: +94 11 249 8590 
American Citizens Services email: ColomboACS@state.gov 
 
¶7.  As the State Department develops information on 
potential security threats to U.S. citizens overseas, it 
shares credible threat information through its consular 
information documents, including Country Specific 
Information reports and the Worldwide Caution, available 
on the Internet at http://travel.state.gov. 
 
¶8.  Travelers may obtain up-to-date information on 
security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free 
in the United States and Canada or, outside the United 
States and Canada on a toll line at 1-202-501-4444. 
These numbers are available Monday through Friday (except 
U.S. federal holidays), from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern 
Standard Time. 
 
¶9.  Minimize considered. 
CLINTON