Govt. might issue travel advisory against TN
While declaring that the Sri Lankan government would lodge a protest with the Indian Government over last Saturday’s alleged assault on a Sri Lankan monk in Thanjavur, India, the External Affairs Ministry yesterday said if such incidents continued, the government ‘would even consider’ issuing a travel advisory on those visiting Tamil Nadu.
In September, 2012, Sri Lanka issued a travel advisory for Sri Lankan nationals visiting the state of Tamil Nadu, following attacks on Sri Lankans visiting Tamil Nadu
“We have already instructed our High Commissioner in New Delhi to take up the matter with the Indian External Affairs Ministry and lodge a protest against it,” Foreign Ministry Secretary Karunatilaka Amunugama told the Daily Mirror.
When asked whether the government would be compelled to re-issue a travel advisory against Lankans visiting Tamil Nadu following the incident, Mr. Amunugama said, “if these kinds of incidents continue, the government ‘would consider’ necessary action, even by issuing a travel advisory.”Meanwhile, the External Affairs Ministry yesterday said in a statement that the Sri Lanka Deputy High Commissioner’s Office in Chennai and the Sri Lanka High Commission in New Delhi made immediate arrangements for the safe return of victimised Ven. Gnanaloka Thera to New Delhi on Saturday evening and the Ven. Thero would continue with his course of study in New Delhi .
“The incident has received immediate attention at the highest levels of the Government of India and the State government of Tamil Nadu,” it said.