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Now Britain slams revised advisory on CHOGM period
The British Foreign Office has issued a travel advisory, advising its citizens of possible travel disruptions if they visit Sri Lanka during the November Commonwealth Summit. “There may be high levels of travel disruption around that time, like frequent road closures, high security at airports and difficulties in booking hotel rooms,” the updated advisory warned visitors.
The advisory comes as the Government took exception to an updated travel advisory issued by the United States for its citizens visiting Sri Lanka. The Government’s concern was conveyed to the US at a meeting between External Affairs Ministry officials and a US embassy official at the ministry premises on Tuesday. The embassy official agreed to convey to the State Department Sri Lanka’s request to review the latest travel notice, Foreign Secretary Karunatillake Amunugama said.
US embassy’s Information Officer Juliana Spaven said in an email to the Sunday Times: “The United States Government has no higher responsibility than to serve and protect its citizens, including those who reside or are temporarily abroad. The US embassy is committed to providing superior service to US citizens visiting or residing in Sri Lanka or Maldives, and updates are intended to reflect the most current information.”
The latest US travel notice states that travellers, especially women, should consider travelling with other people when possible.
“Western women continue to report incidents of verbal and physical harassment by groups of men. Such harassment can occur anytime or anywhere, but most frequently, has taken place in crowded areas such as marketplaces, train stations, buses, public streets and sporting events,” it says.
EAM officials told the U.S. official that the manner in which Sri Lanka was portrayed through the travel advisory is incorrect and should be removed.
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