SL to challenge British travel advisory

19 August 2012 05:10 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 64 Bookmark

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Sri Lanka today said it will challenge the latest UK travel advisory to British citizens warning them of an upsurge of nationalism, sexual offences and anti-western rhetoric in the country.

The external affairs ministry said that the matter will be taken up with the British authorities and enquiries would be lodged in the country as well as in London.

"We will seek information as to how they had come into conclusions which had led to the issuance of the travel advisory concerned," a senior official of the public communication division in the ministry said.

The travel advisory however claims that violent crimes against foreigners are not frequent but seeks to warn resident Britons to be careful on the move.

Britons were asked to carry alarms as there was a steep increase in rape and sexual molestation cases.

Earlier, a British tourist was killed last Christmas in a southern resort while his girl friend was assaulted. A local ruling party politician is under arrest for the murder.

After Indian tourists, the UK is the second single largest inbound travel market for Sri Lanka.

Tourism infrastructure development is a key area of the island's economic development since the war with the LTTE ended three years ago. (PTI)

Comments - 64

undapala Monday, 20 August 2012 07:29 AM

The truth hurts doesnt it.

3 27

Minister Monday, 20 August 2012 08:10 AM

Truth is always bitter!

1 23

Shace-UK Monday, 20 August 2012 08:34 AM

They have rape, robbery, killing in UK too, but the law and justice is always been there...UK had riots last summer
by this summer more than 1700 people went behind the bars!!! what’s happening with duminda in SL?? still we are listening to fairy tales....
a rugby player takes a ak-47 front of packed spectators and shoots on the air...but police have still
not taken any action...mate good to be patriotic...we all love Sri Lanka...but people shouldn’t be stupid as well.
Nursery children may buy your story but not rest of the world!!!!

3 60

Renuka Amarasingha Monday, 20 August 2012 08:39 AM

"Dont go behind Suddas" but you want the sudda Tourists money, What frauds you pseudo nationalists are. The Suddas have every right to warn their citizens re the dangers of travelling in a country where law and order,and criminal activity is on the rise.

4 46

asoka Monday, 20 August 2012 08:54 AM

You can protest to fool the people to show that you are fighting against injustice with the Western world but we can see who is fooling whom.

0 21

VIS Jayapalan poet Monday, 20 August 2012 09:06 AM

Killing of a young girl is not normal for the British government. As a government they have toke precautionary measures and warn the people.
Anti Indian and anti Western propaganda is increasing.
Sri Lankan government have no room for accuse British Government

3 22

sach Monday, 20 August 2012 09:10 AM

for your infor many european women were raped and murdered in Goa, India but Britain didnt issue travel advisory.

26 1

david Monday, 20 August 2012 09:14 AM

British government has right to warn its own citizens for their safty. There is nothing to challenge British government for doing this.
All SL can do is to improve the safty of tourist and its own citizens regardless of ethnicity.
It is a joke to challenge British givernment in this matter.

2 33

zzz Monday, 20 August 2012 09:05 AM

more bitter when it is foretold.... and historically repetitive.

0 15

KP Monday, 20 August 2012 09:50 AM

Good move !

2 14

srinath.gunaratne Monday, 20 August 2012 10:46 AM

Foreign office in UK is not answerable to government of Sri Lanka?
Please rectify the lawlessness in the country.
These are the instruments foreign countries use to attack us. So it is best to sort these things before highlighted.

3 9

Welusumana Monday, 20 August 2012 07:34 AM

Well when you read the full report you will realise it is nothing but true. They have analysed the situation of the country correctly and have informed their citizens about it. Simple as that. Why do we worry so much. If we worry something should be done to put things right .They have commended us in many ways and this is the British way of saying ''spade is a spade'' and we Sri Lankans are not used to that kind of mentality. We get unnecessarily agitated and make a mockery of ourselves.

3 29

Imran Hussein Monday, 20 August 2012 11:43 AM

Goan state govt and the central govt doing its best to punish the culprits who are still at large in India. Neither the govt is provinding a safe havean for the goons nor any politicain involved in those crimes. Here the policians directly involved.

0 13

kingasanga Monday, 20 August 2012 12:32 PM

REMEMBER, some of Sri Lanka had born with ENGLISH blood. those doing exactly the same as their elders.

17 5

upul Monday, 20 August 2012 12:26 PM

Not only Britishers, It this warning is good for the locals even.

1 17

Lankaputhra Monday, 20 August 2012 12:34 PM

So you happy that other countries interfere with our problems? Tell them to mind own business

18 1

wimale Tuesday, 21 August 2012 03:26 AM

Some comments above are clear evidence of anti western (anti every other county and community) sentiment. The Brittish government has the right to advise their citizens where they see fit. and if UK is such an unsafe place why doesn't the Srilankan gvt have simillar warnings to travellers to the UK.. Loll you people are nut. Hama ekkenagema angata kadan paninna inne. Api witharai hari.

0 5

manpei Tuesday, 21 August 2012 03:31 AM

What are you talking about LankaPuthra.. They are nto medling with our problems they are advising their own citizens who wish to travel here.

0 8

sach Tuesday, 21 August 2012 03:28 AM

If SL is dangerous like u say why do tourists keep on coming? There are many downsides in this country and i can even list more. But dont paint a wrong picture.

6 1

Nihal Tuesday, 21 August 2012 05:09 AM

Check UK news papers and USA news papers, a day how many crimes in their country. See Indian news papers, how many crimes in that. country. See world news papers how many credit cards frauders in UK.

7 0

manpei Tuesday, 21 August 2012 05:21 AM

The Brittish Foreign office doesn't need our approval before giving advise or information to their citizens. And if UK and other western countires are so unsafe like some of you have commented why doesn't our government give us simmillar warnings or information?

0 5

manpei Tuesday, 21 August 2012 05:26 AM

Nihal. what's you point. If there are threats to peoples well being UK and USA give information and warnings to people like you said it's on their news papers. But UK or US citizens must not be reading our news papers no so it's their governments responsibility to warn them of any incidents here if they are planning to travel to SL. What's wrong with that, they put their peoples well being first.

0 6

Frederick Tuesday, 21 August 2012 06:13 AM

First thing to remember when you compare SL with countries in the West.There is freedom of speech in the West anything and everything is reported no one is above the law.Not so in SL so the true picture can be several times worse than what is reported in the press in SL.

0 8

warra02 Tuesday, 21 August 2012 07:34 AM

so what the travel advisory is saying is, it is all rosy in the UK and there is no discrimination over there. is it? and no crime. sort your own issues out man. u guys are in recession still and unemployment on the rise. plus my friend was called a nigga and almost assaulted in the london underground.

6 1

mohan Tuesday, 21 August 2012 08:39 AM

what about Norway , I

5 0

Asanka Tuesday, 21 August 2012 11:06 AM

It's all about Tamil Votes and pro tamil lobbying. UK Politicians will do anything to please them as they will benefited. all these things against Sri Lanka is by product of that situation.

6 0

bandara Monday, 20 August 2012 04:02 AM

SL govt. don't fool the SL public during election time to show off your macho ism. You cannot challenge, at most you can only request them to take of the travel advisory. It is their sovereign decision.

1 41

mikecroos Sunday, 19 August 2012 05:49 PM

I'm a Sri Lankan and I'm ashamed to say that I have to agree with the British travel advisory..

27 245

Nero Sunday, 19 August 2012 05:42 PM

The statement made by some Buddhist monks, Modawansa and Dr. are examples of anti western sentiment. So just do not waste your time and tax payers money.

14 204

Hussain Sunday, 19 August 2012 07:50 PM

This is utter nonsense, Sri Lanka is safer for tourist than most other destinations. One negative incident, should not mar everything.

127 29

Gayan Sunday, 19 August 2012 08:47 PM

Why do we bother anyway?. Its UK govt for gods sake.

76 19

wickrama Sunday, 19 August 2012 09:23 PM

Nothing to challenges. These are basic requirements to become the wonder of asia.

10 90

IVJ Sunday, 19 August 2012 11:02 PM

This is the problem with our politicians, they dont know what is happening in our own country as foreign countries have to enlighten us.

9 91

Punchi Putha Monday, 20 August 2012 12:23 AM

Haven't we learnt from the past? rather than finding faults with others, first correct ourselves

6 100

V Andrew Monday, 20 August 2012 12:52 AM

Unfortunately, a travel advisory has to be issued to our mothers, sisters and daughters. Our country is not a safe place for them to travel alone. It won´t be long before our grand mothers also will not be safe. God bless Sri Lanka.

7 81

Samantha Monday, 20 August 2012 01:15 AM

UK citizen's pather had been killed by a gan including a poticition in December 2011 that may be the reason

5 55

Gamaraala Monday, 20 August 2012 01:30 AM

Mr Wimal will take care of this.

6 60

Sri Lankan Monday, 20 August 2012 03:42 AM

Wounder why Government is not talking about LTTE on this issue?

23 57

mmaameer Monday, 20 August 2012 03:54 AM

nothing to be surprised at

3 34

Renuka Amarasingha Monday, 20 August 2012 03:55 AM

Dont blame the U.K Govt for its travel Advisory. For Gods sake a British citizen has been murdered and his girl friend raped by a govt politician ,and the suspected murderer sacked and re admitted to the ruling party.The rule of law and crimes against tourists especialy females has been escalating.,Murders ,rapes kidnappings are now a common occurence. The police are a helpless corrupt lot.. This not a safe tourist paradise anymore

4 72

Lobo Monday, 20 August 2012 04:01 AM

Guess we had this coming because we are delaying justice in the British national's killing in Tangalle.

4 41

bandara Monday, 20 August 2012 03:42 AM

SL has to learn to address the real issues instead of seeing a non existent conspiracy in everything and attacking the messenger

4 46

ceylon Sunday, 19 August 2012 05:28 PM

Anyone see how bad things are in SL. There is nothing to challenge.

38 250

Nodrog Monday, 20 August 2012 04:04 AM

Instead of wasting time and energy protesting first get your house in order and stop the killings and rape of our women and children. If our own nationals are not safe here how foreigners feel safe?

4 60

Thomas Ranger Monday, 20 August 2012 03:45 AM

To those at the Ministry of External Affairs - try to understand those who impose such restrictions also can read, see and hear things.

4 32

Kautilya Monday, 20 August 2012 03:58 AM

Travel advisory is for British Tourist by their government.Any government can advice their citizens about their safety when they travel other countries.What is this fuss about?

2 39

Roger Monday, 20 August 2012 04:11 AM

Truth Hurts

4 38

bigsam Monday, 20 August 2012 04:23 AM

No need to launch big inquiries - just read the daily newspapers!

10 107

Daya Monday, 20 August 2012 04:27 AM

If you travel to an unknown territory as a tourist what will be on your mind? How many incidents or whether any incidents question the safety of your family and yourselves? If SL promote as a best tourist destination then local authorities and law enforcement authorities should support that. In the past what happen was those who involved in heinous crimes directly or indirectly attach to the present government.

6 36

Saman Monday, 20 August 2012 05:04 AM

No matter who said what, crimes are on the increase in Sri Lanka. Of course the politicians would deny this instead of dealing with the truth and making SL a safer place for everyone including the British Tourists.

1 44

Vish W Monday, 20 August 2012 04:50 AM

The British Government should have givern a sterner warning in the Travel Advisory.Sri Lanka is a country ruled by thugs,ruffians,murderers,rogues,drug treffickers, thieves, racketeers etc etc. As shameful it might be that is the truth.What more evidence does one require when an alleged killer and rapist of a British and Russian tourists continues to remain in government

3 52

Sudda Monday, 20 August 2012 05:10 AM

See how volunerable tourism industry is.

2 34

Reeri Yaka Monday, 20 August 2012 05:46 AM

First punish the rapists, and other criminals!! That will automatically lift the warnings. This is a good lesson for the politikkas. But ultimately, we, people will suffer.

2 45

sach Monday, 20 August 2012 05:48 AM

really? Do u see bombs exploding in SL like 3 years back? even during the last 30 years SL was safe when compared with other countries with civil war. Dont they have sexual misconducts in Britain? This advisory is taken as a different political tool not for the said objectives. Even i am not a gov supporter never have voted for MR but still i am with SL on any matter.

105 19

Imran Hussein Monday, 20 August 2012 06:13 AM

If you truly love your country, just open your eyes and see whats going on. Being defensive will not help non at all. Dont olay the 'terror bomb' card time and again. Sexual harassment in other countries and in SL are totally different. Lets face the reality for the future of entire nation. We will be isolated otherwise. Our reputaion and dignity as a nation at stake.

7 75

nishadha Monday, 20 August 2012 06:26 AM

There is nothing to challenge or to get panic on this matter now. Government asked for this by their conduct. What do the government think that they are watching ITN to get the information "

"We will seek information as to how they had come into conclusions which had led to the issuance of the travel advisory concerned," a senior official of the public communication division in the ministry said"

This is the most stupid thing government could do at this moment.

1 35

Prasanna Monday, 20 August 2012 06:20 AM

Funny ! This is like you cut off your head when you have a headache !! Just because u don't like government don't exagerate bad side in the country, which is very small.

I'm not supporting what is happening but it is no where closer to issue a negative travel advisory!!
This is UK way of treating countries not listening to them. Have they ever issued a travel warning to US due to issues on rape and unemplyment ??
Don't go behind suddas. You will help to repeat the history !! stop it. We should be one country.

66 13

seenisambol Monday, 20 August 2012 06:49 AM

Surprising why the Govt has not said this is the work of the LTTE rump and the Tamil diaspora paying monies to the UK travel advisory.

22 55

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