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U.K. eases curbs on travel to Sri Lanka

COLOMBO: Britain became the first western country to relax some travel restrictions to Sri Lanka in the post-Prabakaran era.

The British High Commission here said U.K. no longer discourages holidaymakers from enjoying leopard-spotting at Yala National Park, surfing at Arugam Bay or admiring Trincomalee harbour, one of the world’s deepest natural ports.

“We’ve taken this decision based on our assessment of the improving security situation in these parts of Sri Lanka,” it said.

“In light of the uncertain security situation in areas recently affected by conflict we continue to discourage British tourists from travelling to other parts of the Eastern Province and continue to advice against all travel to northern Sri Lanka,” it said.

Separately, the Information Ministry website said Indonesian investment is likely to flow shortly into Sri Lanka on “a massive scale”, following the visit of Special Presidential Adviser and MP, Basil Rajapaksa to Indonesia two days ago.

Mr. Rajapaksa led a high-power Board of Investment (BoI) team to Indonesia to explore investment opportunities and had talks with the Indonesian business sector focusing on investment opportunities in the North and East.

Separately, quoting the military the English paper, Daily Mirror, said another large stock of jewellery pawned by civilians at the LTTE’s “Eelam Bank” was recovered by troops on Thursday in Puthukkudiruppu.

During the clearing and mopping up operations, it said, the troops recovered 8,709 packets that contained a wide range of gold jewellery including necklaces, bangles, ear rings and chains.

Each packet contained a duplicate receipt with names and details of those pawning the jewellery while the original might have been issued to the owners at the time the items were pawned.

The army had already sent detailed reports to Wanni military authorities seeking help in tracing the whereabouts of the owners to return of their valuables.

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