Bhathiya Barukanda
U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung said there is no travel ban on Sri Lanka, and the security advisory for Sri Lanka remains at Level 2, similar to other popular destinations such as France, Italy and the Maldives.
On October 23, the U.S. Embassy in Colombo restricted travel for its personnel to Arugam Bay due to credible information regarding a potential attack on tourist locations in the area.
Chung clarified that this measure does not constitute a blanket travel ban.
“When we became aware of a specific threat in the Arugam Bay area, we shared these known details with the Sri Lankan authorities, who responded quickly. We continue to actively coordinate with them on a daily basis, and we value our partnership with Sri Lanka’s leadership and security officials, whose commitment to safety and transparency is notable. Sri Lanka is still at Level 2, just like the Maldives, France and Italy,” she said.
Chung said that last week’s security alert was for Americans to avoid Arugam Bay until further notice. Still, their overall security advisory for Sri Lanka remains at Level 2, consistent for many years.
