The Sri Lankan government has warned its citizens against all travel to Tamil Nadu after several protests against Sri Lankan citizens were held in the state.
“The Government of Sri Lanka regrets the increasing number of instances of intimidation of Sri Lankan nationals visiting Tamil Nadu for the purposes of tourism, religious pilgrimages, sporting and cultural activities and professional training,” the External Affairs Ministry said in a travel advisory.
“The Government of Sri Lanka is constrained to request Sri Lankan nationals in the interest of their security to desist from undertaking visits to Tamil Nadu until further notice.
“In the event there is a compelling reason to visit Tamil Nadu, such a visit should take place following prior timely intimation to the Sri Lanka Deputy High Commission in Chennai,”
“Travel to all other states is safe,” it further said.
The government’s warning came after nearly 200 Sri Lankan pilgrims, on a visit to a Poornimatha church in Tamil Nadu, were forced to return to the island after they were faced with protests by Tamil groups.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalitha ordered the expulsion of two Sri Lankan football teams from Chennai and sacked the official behind the games.
She said the official, who had authorised the visit, had ‘demeaned the sentiments’ of the Tamil people.
Sri Lankan footballers kicked out of India (02 Sep 2012)
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TN parties slam Delhi’s defence of training Sri Lankans (29 Aug 2012)
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