As Sri Lanka’s economy continues to crater the British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has issued a warning on Sri Lanka detailing how “the economic situation is deteriorating”.
“The economic situation is deteriorating in Sri Lanka with shortages of basic necessities including medicines, fuel and food because of a shortage of hard currency to pay for imports. There may be long queues at grocery stores, gas stations, and pharmacies. Local authorities may impose the rationing of electricity, resulting in power outages” the statement reads.
The statement follows a similar warning by Canadian authorities who advised travellers to “exercise a high degree of caution”.
The Canadian statement further highlighted that “the Sri Lankan military continues to maintain a strong presence in the country’s North and East, including the Jaffna Peninsula”. It also detailed that “individuals of Sri Lankan heritage, including those who don’t have Sri Lankan citizenship, have been detained on occasion by police or security forces”. The Canadian government encouraged travellers to “avoid military areas and High-Security Zones” and noted that authorities can “detain without charge for extended periods” and “impose curfews”.
The British statement further warned against severe weather including tropical cyclones and monsoon rains. It also raised concerns of future terrorist attacks noting the attack on Easter Sunday, which killed over 270 people.
In January, the UN High Commissioner published a detailed report documenting the deterioration of human rights in Sri Lanka and urging international action including sanctions. The report warned the continued ill-treatment of minorities by Sri Lankan authorities has “serious negative implications for reconciliation, peacebuilding and religious tolerance, and carries the seeds of future violence and conflict”.
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