Australian government tells its citizens to ‘reconsider your need to travel’
Travel 22 April 2019 Arabia Day Newsdesk 0
As the death toll in the Easter Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka rises, the Australian government has told citizens planning to visit the island to “reconsider your need to travel”.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Canberra is telling prospective tourists to the Indian Ocean island: “Think seriously about whether you need to travel here due to the high level of risk.
“If you do travel, do your research and take a range of extra safety precautions, including having contingency plans.
“Check that your travel insurer will cover you.”
The “amber” status is the second-most serious, after “Do not travel”. Australia previously advised travellers to Sri Lanka to “exercise a high degree of caution.”
Sri Lanka now has the same security status as Algeria, Congo, Iran and North Korea.
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A police officer inspects the damage after a bombing at the Shangri-La Hotel in Sri Lankan capital Colombo
AP
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Sri Lankan Special Task Force officers raid a house following an explosion in capital Colombo
AFP/Getty
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A woman is helped near St Anthony’s Shrine after a blast in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Sunday 21 April 2019. At least 130 people were killed and more than 500 hospitalised after near-simultaneous explosions hit three hotels and three churches on Easter Sunday.
AP
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Queues at the National Blood Bank in Colombo, Sri Lanka after a request for blood to aid in recovery efforts
Mr Lavasquabble/Twitter
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Priests stand inside St Anthony’s Shrine, Kochchikade church on the outskirts of Colombo after a bombing
Reuters
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The Kingsbury hotel in Colombo, Sri Lanka after a bombing attack
Getty
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The damaged interior of a church in Negombo, Sri Lanka following a bombing attack
Reuters
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The Kingsbury Hotel in Colombo, Sri Lanka following a bombing
AFP/Getty
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Police and security personnel stand guard outside the Shangri-La Hotel in Sri Lankan capital Colombo following a bombing attack
EPA
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Security personnel work at the scene of a bombing at a church in Batticaloa in Sri Lanka
AFP/Getty
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Medical response team work to remove dead bodies from the scene of bombings in Sri Lankan capital Colombo
AFP/Getty
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Debris is seen at St Anthony’s Church in this still image from video footage after explosions hit churches and hotels in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on 21 April 2019
Derana TV/via Reuters
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Security forces inspect the scene of a bombing at the Shangri-La Hotel in Sri Lankan capital Colombo
Getty
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Damage inside a church following a bombing attack
AP
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A Sri Lankan Special Task Force officer scales a house during a raid following an explosion in capital Colombo
AFP/Getty
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A general interior view showing damage after an explosion hit St Anthony’s Church in Kochchikade, Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Sunday 21 April 2019
EPA
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Priests walk into St Anthony’s Shrine Kochchikade church after an explosion in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on 21 April 2019
Reuters
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Sri Lankan police officers clear the road as an ambulance drives through carrying injured of church blasts in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Sunday 21 April 2019
AP
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A Sri Lankan police officer stands outside St Anthony’s Shrine in Colombo, Sri Lanka, after a blast on Sunday 21 April 2019
AP
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A shoe of a victim is seen in front of the St Anthony’s Shrine, Kochchikade Church
Reuters
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Local and security officials gather at the scene at St Anthony’s Church in Kochchikade, Colombo, Sri Lanka
EPA
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An ambulance is seen outside the church premises with gathered security personnel following a blast at St Anthony’s Shrine in Kochchikade, Colombo, on Sunday 21 April 2019
AFP/Getty
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Armed policemen patrol the area after an explosion hit at St Anthony’s Church in Kochchikade in Colombo, Sri Lanka, 21 April 2019
EPA
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Sri Lankan Army soldiers secure the area around St. Anthony’s Shrine after a blast in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sunday 21 April 2019
AP
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Sri Lankan security personnel keep watch outside the church premises following a blast at the St Anthony’s Shrine in Kochchikade, Colombo, on Sunday 21 April 2019
AFP/Getty
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Police officers inspect the scene after an explosion hit at St Anthony’s Church in Kochchikade in Colombo, Sri Lanka, 21 April 2019
EPA
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A police officer inspects the damage after a bombing at the Shangri-La Hotel in Sri Lankan capital Colombo
AP
2/26
Sri Lankan Special Task Force officers raid a house following an explosion in capital Colombo
AFP/Getty
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A woman is helped near St Anthony’s Shrine after a blast in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Sunday 21 April 2019. At least 130 people were killed and more than 500 hospitalised after near-simultaneous explosions hit three hotels and three churches on Easter Sunday.
AP
4/26
Queues at the National Blood Bank in Colombo, Sri Lanka after a request for blood to aid in recovery efforts
Mr Lavasquabble/Twitter
5/26
Priests stand inside St Anthony’s Shrine, Kochchikade church on the outskirts of Colombo after a bombing
Reuters
6/26
The Kingsbury hotel in Colombo, Sri Lanka after a bombing attack
Getty
7/26
The damaged interior of a church in Negombo, Sri Lanka following a bombing attack
Reuters
8/26
The Kingsbury Hotel in Colombo, Sri Lanka following a bombing
AFP/Getty
9/26
Police and security personnel stand guard outside the Shangri-La Hotel in Sri Lankan capital Colombo following a bombing attack
EPA
10/26
Security personnel work at the scene of a bombing at a church in Batticaloa in Sri Lanka
AFP/Getty
11/26
Medical response team work to remove dead bodies from the scene of bombings in Sri Lankan capital Colombo
AFP/Getty
12/26
Debris is seen at St Anthony’s Church in this still image from video footage after explosions hit churches and hotels in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on 21 April 2019
Derana TV/via Reuters
13/26
Security forces inspect the scene of a bombing at the Shangri-La Hotel in Sri Lankan capital Colombo
Getty
14/26
Damage inside a church following a bombing attack
AP
15/26
A Sri Lankan Special Task Force officer scales a house during a raid following an explosion in capital Colombo
AFP/Getty
16/26
A general interior view showing damage after an explosion hit St Anthony’s Church in Kochchikade, Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Sunday 21 April 2019
EPA
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Priests walk into St Anthony’s Shrine Kochchikade church after an explosion in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on 21 April 2019
Reuters
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Sri Lankan police officers clear the road as an ambulance drives through carrying injured of church blasts in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Sunday 21 April 2019
AP
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A Sri Lankan police officer stands outside St Anthony’s Shrine in Colombo, Sri Lanka, after a blast on Sunday 21 April 2019
AP
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A shoe of a victim is seen in front of the St Anthony’s Shrine, Kochchikade Church
Reuters
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Local and security officials gather at the scene at St Anthony’s Church in Kochchikade, Colombo, Sri Lanka
EPA
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An ambulance is seen outside the church premises with gathered security personnel following a blast at St Anthony’s Shrine in Kochchikade, Colombo, on Sunday 21 April 2019
AFP/Getty
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Armed policemen patrol the area after an explosion hit at St Anthony’s Church in Kochchikade in Colombo, Sri Lanka, 21 April 2019
EPA
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Sri Lankan Army soldiers secure the area around St. Anthony’s Shrine after a blast in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sunday 21 April 2019
AP
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Sri Lankan security personnel keep watch outside the church premises following a blast at the St Anthony’s Shrine in Kochchikade, Colombo, on Sunday 21 April 2019
AFP/Getty
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Police officers inspect the scene after an explosion hit at St Anthony’s Church in Kochchikade in Colombo, Sri Lanka, 21 April 2019
EPA
Australia is the first western government to make such a move.
The UK Foreign Office warns now, as it did before Sunday’s bombings: “Terrorists are likely to carry out attacks in Sri Lanka. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by foreigners.”
The US State Department is warning Americans: “Terrorist groups continue plotting possible attacks in Sri Lanka.” It says that the targets could include tourist locations, transport hubs, markets and shopping malls, hotels, restaurants and airports.
After the orchestrated and systematic attack that targeted Christians and tourists, the Sri Lankan government has imposed a curfew from 8pm to 4am for Monday night.
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