20/01/2005

Foreign Office amends Sri Lanka travel advice

The Foreign Office has issued a statement saying that it is no longer advising against travel to some of the tsunami-hit areas of Sri Lanka.

Following the Indian Ocean tsunami disaster three weeks ago, the Foreign Office had advised British travellers to only make essential trips to Sri Lanka's eastern and southern coasts, as well as the south western coast, south of Kalutara.

However, in a advisory notice issued today, the Foreign Office stated that a number of hotels and resorts in the area have now reopened. They are recommending that travellers should still check with their tour operators and hotel before departure to ensure that everything is operating normally.

The Foreign Office is continuing to advise against all but essential travel to the north and east (except for the towns of Trincomalee, Nilaveli and Argam Bay), primarily because much of this area remains heavily mined. However, it also warned that most of the hotels in the three towns remain closed.

The Foreign Office's travel advice is under constant review and the latest updates can be obtained by contacting: 0870 6060290.

(KMcA/SP)

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