Foreign Office issues Sri Lanka warning
Sri Lanka Tourism is urging tourists not to cancel or postpone trips to the country despite recent flooding that has claimed 23 lives and affected about one million inhabitants.
Nalin Perera, a London-based customer relations official for the tourist office, insisted none of the tourist areas had been affected by the floods which have hit mainly the eastern districts of Batticoloa, Ampara and Trincomlee.
"The south of the country where most of the tourists go is absolutely fine," he said. "I’ve been on the phone to Sri Lanka this morning and I am assured it’s only in the northeast, in isolated areas, where we have a few little issues."
However, the Foreign Office is warning on its website today that Kandy and Nuwara Eliya, two towns in central Sri Lanka that are very popular with British tourists, have experienced earthslips due to heavy rain.
Kandy, capital of the Central Province on the Mahewali River, is Sri Lanka’s main cultural centre, being home to a temple said to house the tooth of Buddha. Nuwara Eliya is in the heart of the Hill Country and famed for its tea plantations.
The Foreign Office said: "The risk of landslides in these areas can remain for up to 24 hours or longer after the rain ceases." Today, rain is still falling.
The Foreign Office added: "As of 14 January, the south, south east and western areas of the country have not been seriously affected by the recent floods." It advised holidaymakers to check the Disaster Management Centre website (www.dmc.gov.lk) for the latest information before travelling.
In Queensland, a clean up has begun after the worst floods in decades and in Brazil, mudslides and flooding have again struck villages in the hills above Rio de Janeiro, killing more than 500.
By Linsey McNeill
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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