TRAVEL WARNING

Govt. cautions Lankans against travel to Tamil Nadu 184 panicked pilgrims take refuge in Church

The government yesterday issued a travel warning against those visiting Tamil Nadu in India, in the wake of recent incidents of intimidation towards Sri Lankan nationals visiting the Southern Indian state for religious and tourist purposes.

The Sri Lankan External Affairs Ministry said that “the Government of Sri Lanka is constrained

to request Sri Lankan nationals in the interest of their security to desist from undertaking visits to Tamil Nadu until further notice.”

It also said, “During the course of yesterday 184 Lankan pilgrims visiting the Poornimatha Church in Thanjavur have been mobbed and taken refuge in the church. The Government of Sri Lanka has tak-

During the course of yesterday 184 Lankan pilgrims visiting the Poornimatha Church in Thanjavur have been mobbed and taken refuge in the church

en all steps required through the Indian Government to seek the safety of these pilgrims. The Government of Sri Lanka regrets the increasing number of instances of intimidation on Sri Lankan nationals visiting Tamil Nadu for the purposes of tourism, religious pilgrimages, sporting and cultural activ- ities and professional training. These visits are a reflection of people to people contact between the polity of two countries which are bound by the age old friendly ties and traditions.”

However, the Ministry said travel to all other states in India was safe for Sri Lankans.