UK warns against all but essential travel to Sri Lanka

<p>The UK has warned against all but essential travel to Sri Lanka, in a Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) update&nbsp;released today.</p> <p>Eight Britons are known to be among those killed during the the bomb blasts targetting churches and hotels on Easter Sunday.</p> <p>“Terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in Sri Lanka. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by foreigners. On 21 April 2019, bombs were used to attack 3 churches and 3 hotels in Sri Lanka: in central Colombo, in the northern suburb of Colombo Kochchikade, and in Negombo roughly twenty miles north of Colombo; and in the east of the country in Batticaloa. More than 300 people were killed, including at least 8 British nationals," the update noted.&nbsp;</p> <p>"Security has been stepped up across the island. A State of Emergency and night-time curfew remaining in place. The Sri Lankan authorities have made a number of arrests in relation to the attacks, and security operations are ongoing, including controlled explosions of suspicious packages and vehicles, and temporary evacuations of buildings. However, the extent of any continued threat following the 21 April attacks remains unclear. On 24 April 2019, the Sri Lanka police issued a warning that mosques may be targeted by attacks, specifying ‘Aulia’ Mosques connected with the burial sites of Muslim Saints."</p> <p>See full briefing <a href="https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/sri-lanka">here</a></p>