Terrorism in Sri Lanka

The Department of State warns against travel to the Northern Province and most of the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka. Since early January 2008, fighting between the Sri Lankan military, paramilitary groups and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam has increased, and bombs in densely populated areas have killed dozens of civilians.

A suicide bombing on Oct. 6 killed 28 civilians and injured 80 at a political party office in Anuradhapura. On June 6, 22 were killed and 70 injured by an antipersonnel mine aimed at a passenger bus in Colombo. The same day, two people were killed by a mine in a bus in Kandy. On May 31, a grenade attack on a bus stop in Wellawatta killed two and wounded 10. On May 26, nine were killed and 84 injured in a train bombing in Dehiwala.

US government personnel are currently prohibited from using public transportation in Sri Lanka. Travelers are also advised to avoid government buildings, military installations and government vehicle convoys.