23rd  April 2019

Media Release

Following the acts of terror that took place on Easter Sunday,  Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) and Sri Lanka Tourism Development  Authority (SLTDA) have continued to engage with high-level  government  officials  and tourism  stakeholders  in order to assess the current situation and have taken necessary  steps to ensure all possible  assistance is provided to tourists in need of help.

Sri  Lanka   Tourism   is   deeply   shocked   and   saddened   by   the   senseless   violence   and unreservedly    condemns   these   dastardly   acts.   We   offer   our   deepest   sympathies   and condolences to all the victims and their families, while wishing a speedy recovery to all those injured and currently receiving treatment.

In the immediate aftermath  of the explosions  Sri Lanka Tourism deployed trained emergency response  teams  and its representatives  at hospitals,  affected  hotels  and the airport  to assist tourists  in  any  way  possible  including  hotel  transfers,  airline  bookings,  airport  transfers, itinerary  changes, hospital  treatment,   contacting  their  loved  ones  and  reuniting   missing family members through diplomatic channels.

In addition  a 24 hour emergency  support desk has been established  and can be accessed  as follows;

Emergency local hotline number to assist tourists currently in Sri Lanka - 1912

Emergency hotline to assist families of affected foreign nationals +94 11 2322485

Sri Lanka Tourism wishes to assure tourists who are already in the country and unaffected  by the terror uuucks that the police, tourism police uud security forces urc jointly  implementing  a comprehensive  security  plan  to ensure their safety across the island including  all important tourism  sites. Meanwhile  a security  briefing  was held  on 22nd April  for hotel  owners  and operators on the new safety measures that are being rolled out and to seek their cooperation in strengthening security at hotels and resorts.

Sri Lanka Tourism would like to reassure the world that the country is open for business  and all possible measures have been taken to ensure the safety and security of tourists. Our world famous tourism  sites, hotels,  resorts  and other tourist  attractions  will remain  open as usual. There are no road closures or restrictions on movement anywhere in the island.

Sri Lanka is a proudly  diverse nation which celebrates its multicultural  nature. Since the end of the war  a decade  ago,  Sri Lanka  has  enjoyed  absolute  peace  and it will  do everything within its power to maintain  the peace that every Sri Lankan  cherishes and rebuild what has been destroyed with renewed vigour. There is no place for terrorism of any kind in Sri Lanka and whoever  that  is responsible  for the  Easter  Sunday  violence  will  be hunted  down  and punished in the strongest possible manner.

Sri Lanka  Tourism   looks  forward   to warmly   welcome   all those  who  have  planned   trips  to the country  in the days,  weeks  and months   ahead.

(Concluded) 

 Ministry  of Tourism  Development,   Wildlife  and  Christian   Religious  Affairs

No. 78, Galle Road,  Colombo  3, Sri Lanka

Office: +94112382206

Fax: +94112382218

Mobile:  +94 777 354 794

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Web:www.tuurismmin.sutvo .lk/ www.si-ilnnka.travel