Sri Lanka has suffered six near-simultaneous explosions at three churches and three luxury hotels. The blasts took place in Colombo and Negombo, in the south-west of the country, 37 kilometres apart. The attacks are believed to have been carried out by suicide bombers, but no one has yet claimed responsibility. The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has now updated their travel advice to the country.
Approximately 8,000 British tourists are believed to be in the popular holiday destination while several thousand Britons are long-term expatriate residents.
“There have been a number of explosions in Sri Lanka, including Colombo, on Sunday 21 April,” the FCO wrote on their website.
“Please follow the instructions of local security officials and follow travel advice for updates.”
The FCO categorises terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka as “can’t be ruled out”.
They add: “Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by foreigners.”
A spokesman from the Foreign Office has said following this morning’s attack: “We are aware of reports of a number of explosions in Sri Lanka, including Colombo, and we are urgently seeking information from the local authorities.”
The Foreign Office is not warning against travelling to Sri Lanka until the situation becomes clearer.
Therefore those with holidays booked are unable to cancel their trip without penalty.
The one SriLankan Airlines flight from Heathrow a day arrived at Colombo airport four hours after the attack began this morning.
The three hotels targeted were the five-star Shangri-La Hotel and Cinnamon Grand as well as the Kingsbury hotels in central Colombo.
It is unclear whether there were casualties from the hotel blasts.
The British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka has condemned “evil attacks” which have killed more than 100 people in the country on Easter Sunday.
Today is the worst violence the country has seen since the end of the civil war 10 years ago.
UK Home Secretary Sajid Javid has tweeted: “Heartbreaking news to wake up to on Easter Sunday. These barbaric acts will never succeed in dividing communities. My thoughts and prayers with all those affected. We stand with Sri Lanka and its people.”
Foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt added: “I’m deeply shocked and saddened by the horrifying attacks on churches and hotels in Sri Lanka today.
“To target those gathered for worship on Easter Sunday is particularly wicked. My prayers are with the victims and their families, and with those assisting in the response.”
