The United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has issued an updated travel advisory for Sri Lanka, warning that "terrorist attacks cannot be ruled out" and could occur indiscriminately in locations popular with foreign nationals and tourists.
The advisory urges British travellers to exercise caution and avoid crowded public places, particularly hotels, bars, restaurants, nightclubs, beaches, tourist attractions, places of worship, and large public gatherings such as religious festivals, public holidays, and major events.
The advisory follows the sixth anniversary of the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings, in which more than 250 people were killed in coordinated attacks on churches and hotels in Colombo, Batticaloa, and Negombo. Among the victims were eight British nationals. The devastating attacks, carried out by Islamic extremists, remain one of the deadliest acts of terrorism in Sri Lanka’s history and continue to shape international security concerns regarding travel to the island.
Sri Lanka has been subject to multiple security alerts in recent months. In September 2024, the embassies of Russia, Australia, and the United States issued warnings about credible threats targeting tourist-heavy areas, specifically Arugam Bay in the Eastern Province. The United States Department of Justice subsequently unsealed criminal charges against an individual allegedly tasked with planning a mass shooting against Israeli tourists in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka has long been a popular destination for Israeli tourists, particularly among those who have completed mandatory military service in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). However, this has also drawn international scrutiny.
In December 2024, the Hind Rajab Foundation, a non-profit organisation seeking accountability for war crimes committed by the Israeli military, called for the immediate arrest of Gal Ferenbook, an Israeli soldier believed to be in Colombo. Ferenbook has been accused of war crimes, including the unlawful killing of a Palestinian civilian and the degrading treatment of human remains. Video footage showed him inside an armoured personnel carrier (APC) in Gaza, displaying the remains of a deceased Palestinian while laughing and being referred to as the “terminator” by another soldier.
The FCDO’s warning underscores continued concerns about security threats in Sri Lanka, particularly in tourist-heavy areas. British travellers are advised to remain vigilant.
