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UPDATE: On 13th November 2024 , the US embassy of Colombo lifted the travel restrictions for US citizens to Arugambe. More details can be read here Archived.
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Recently, the U.S. Embassy in Colombo issued a security alert urging its citizens to avoid travelling to the Arugam Bay area in Sri Lanka. This alert has sparked the spread of misinformation across social media and local platforms, with various false claims circulating about the nature and reasons for the warning. Some posts have exaggerated the risks or misrepresented the situation, leading to confusion among the public. The embassy’s alert was intended to ensure the safety of U.S. citizens, but it has been misinterpreted and misused by some to spread misleading information.
Social Media Posts
Viral rumours in society and social media claims that the United States has imposed a travel ban on Sri Lanka due to terrorist threats, specifically urging U.S. citizens to avoid Sri Lanka,
We decided to do a fact-check on this.
Fact Check
Background:
Recent security alerts from the U.S. firstly and then Israeli government and some other countries(UK, Canada,New Zealand,Australia) have sparked concerns about possible terrorist threats in certain tourist areas of Sri Lanka, particularly Arugam Bay and other popular coastal destinations. Following these alerts, rumors began circulating in society claiming that the U.S. had issued a travel ban for the entire country,Sri Lanka.
This has caused confusion among tourists and locals alike, with many wondering if travel to Sri Lanka is no longer safe.
What the US Embassy Said
The U.S. Embassy in Sri Lanka did indeed issue a security alert on October 23, 2024, advising U.S. citizens to avoid the Arugam Bay area due to credible information about a potential terrorist threat. However, the alert was limited to specific areas and did not extend to a blanket travel ban for the entire country.
U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Julie Chung, in a recent statement, clarified that no travel ban has been imposed on Sri Lanka. She explained that the security alert pertains solely to the Arugam Bay area and nearby southern and western coastal regions until further notice. Chung emphasized that the U.S. remains committed to ensuring the safety of its citizens while maintaining close collaboration with Sri Lankan authorities to address the specific security concern.More details about it can be read here
Chung further added that the overall travel advisory for Sri Lanka remains at “Level 2”, which urges travelers to exercise increased caution. This advisory level has been in place for several years and is similar to advisories for many other popular destinations, including the Maldives, France, and Italy.US travel advisory for Sri Lanka can be reached here
Israeli Security Alert
Israel’s National Security Council also issued a security warning, urging Israeli tourists to immediately leave Arugam Bay and the south and west coastal regions of Sri Lanka. The warning, which also cited credible information about a terrorist threat, called on Israeli tourists to be cautious and to avoid large gatherings in public areas.More details can be read here
Misinformation and Clarification
Following these official warnings, rumors began spreading that the U.S. had imposed a travel ban on Sri Lanka. However, this claim is unfounded. As Ambassador Chung pointed out in her speech on October 28, 2024, the rumors are false. The security alert for Arugam Bay is not a travel ban and does not affect the entirety of Sri Lanka.
Ambassador Chung reiterated that the security alert is standard protocol based on a “duty to warn” whenever a credible security threat is identified. This approach is consistent with the U.S. Embassy’s practice worldwide and reflects its commitment to the safety of both U.S. citizens and Sri Lankan residents.
The government of Sri Lanka announced that they had taken all the security methods for the safety of foreigners. The related media briefing of the minister of defence can be watched here
The Sri Lanka Police also said that there was some plan to attack the Isarael citizens in the Arugam Bay area, and related individuals to the plan were captured by the Police.Police media briefing can be reached here
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Conclusion
The claim that the U.S. has imposed a travel ban on Sri Lanka is false. While there is a security alert for specific areas such as Arugam Bay due to a credible terrorist threat, the overall travel advisory for Sri Lanka remains unchanged at Level 2. Visitors are encouraged to exercise increased caution, but there is no broad restriction or ban on travel to Sri Lanka.
