Travel advisories issued on Sri Lanka

• US, UK, and Australia are among the countries that issued updated travel advisories on Sri Lanka
• Lockdowns are being imposed in affected areas, and travel restrictions may also be imposed

By Easwaran Rutnam

A number of countries have issued travel advisories on Sri Lanka after the country was placed on a coronavirus alert last week.   

The US, UK, and Australia are among the countries that issued updated travel advisories on Sri Lanka.   
The UK noted that Sri Lanka has been moved to Risk Alert Level 3 due to an increase in coronavirus cases.   
The travel advice states that due to a prevalence of COVID-19 cases in the community, there is a high risk of changes to flights and airport operations at short notice.   “Lockdowns are being imposed in affected areas, and travel restrictions may also be imposed at short notice. Those not adhering to restrictions risk arrest. The local authorities are conducting random COVID-19 tests in some parts of the country, including borders of the Western Province. You should follow the advice of local authorities. Regulations are in place to enforce social distancing and the wearing of a face mask in public areas,” the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office said with regards to Sri Lanka.   Australia has advised its citizens not to travel to Sri Lanka. 

 
“Do not travel to Sri Lanka due to the health risks from the COVID-19 pandemic and the significant disruptions to global travel,” the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has said.   

The US says the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 2 travel health notice for Sri Lanka due to COVID-19, indicating a moderate level of COVID-19 in the country.