US ‘has not issued travel ban on Sri Lanka’
Ambassador Julie Chung has clarified that the US has not issued a travel ban on Sri Lanka and that the security alert issued recently was only for Americans to avoid the Arugam Bay area until further notice.
Chung said she is proud of the US Embassy’s ongoing collaboration with the government of Sri Lanka to respond to a security threat that resulted in its recent security alert and pledged to continue working together to support the safety and prosperity of Sri Lanka’s citizens and visitors alike.
Speaking during an event, she stated that one of her duties as a US Ambassador is to ensure the safety and security of American citizens here in Sri Lanka.
“Globally, all around the world, our US Embassies operate under a duty to warn. If we become aware of a credible, specific security threat, we must share that information with our staff, US citizens, and the host government,” Chung stated.
She stated that there is no double standard policy, which also means that anytime they alert embassy staff about a specific security concern, they are required to inform US citizens as well.
“This approach is also standard practice worldwide. When we became aware of a specific threat in the Arugam Bay area, we shared these known details with Sri Lankan authorities, who responded quickly.”
“We continue to coordinate with them actively daily, and we value our partnership with Sri Lanka’s leadership and security officials, whose commitment to safety and transparency is notable,” she said.
The US Ambassador emphasized that she also wanted to correct some misinformation being spread.
“There is no travel ban on Sri Lanka. Our security alert last week was for Americans to avoid Arugam Bay until further notice. But our overall travel advisory for Sri Lanka remains the same at ‘Level 2’, which has been so for many years.”
She pointed out that this is similar to advisories of many other popular destinations, including the Maldives, France, and Italy, which are all the same at ‘Level 2’. “Sri Lanka remains at ‘Level 2’,” she said.
“We know that continued safety and stability are essential for a thriving tourism sector, which we support. So, we are fully committed to supporting Sri Lanka’s efforts to create that secure, welcoming environment for all,” Ambassador Chung added.