Attacks in Sri Lanka

This item appears on page 22 of the April 2008 issue.

The Department of State enumerates the risks of travel to Sri Lanka and specifically warns against travel to the northern and eastern areas.

Since early January 2008, attacks by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) against civilians have increased. On Feb. 2, 2008, a bomb on a bus from Kandy headed for Anuradhapura exploded in Dambulla, killing 18 civilians and injuring over 50. On Feb. 3, 14 civilians were killed and about 100 were injured when a suicide attacker detonated an explosive device inside the main railway station in Colombo. The same day, seven were injured when a grenade was detonated at the Dehiwala Zoo in Colombo. 

Travelers are strongly advised against traveling by bus or train in Sri Lanka.