Todays Tamil Tiger Trouble - Advice

Hi

Being my luck as it is, I booked my dream holiday and paid a large deposit to Beruwela at 2pm today, then came home all happy to find out on the BBC website that there was an air attack at 4pm ! OMG !! I know that no-one can give me 100% reassurance of whether to go ahead with my holiday in May, but I really don%26#39;t know whether to cancel, I am really shaken. I have rang Kuoni, but the after sales is closed until tomorrow, I am not so quietly going mad here :o(

I really don%26#39;t know whether to cancel, has anyone travelled near the past troubles ? can any of the regular posters give me some advice please ?

Many thanks in anticipation.

Todays Tamil Tiger Trouble - Advice

Hi,

I%26#39;m off for my 44th trip to Sri Lanka on 18th March and staying until 13th May.

Today%26#39;s incident has not given me second thoughts about going or not.

If you search this forum for safety in Sri Lanka, you will find that the advice has always been:

- avoid Colombo city

- stay clear of government buildings, government convoys and large gatherings.

Beruwala area has never been targeted during the 25+ years of conflict as well as other areas frequented by tourists.

Safety in and around Colombo Airport at Katunayake (32 km from Colombo city) is very high and air defence has been improved since the first LTTE flights in April 2007.

Hans

Todays Tamil Tiger Trouble - Advice

Thank you Hans, I really appreciate that. I have never been before and although I%26#39;m well travelled, I am still nervous, but probably acting on my emotions at the moment.

EBertie

I understand your concern but unless the Foreign Office advised against ALL travel to Sri Lanka we would still go ahead with a holiday there.

I%26#39;d be inclined to keep an eye on the FCO website for up to date advice.

We%26#39;ve travelled to a number of countries where there have been problems (including Bali %26amp; Sri Lanka) but it hasn%26#39;t put us off, in the same way we would have still travelled to London after the bus/underground bombings.

Just be vigilant as has already been said.

Hi there...

Agree 100% with previous replies, and nothing for you to worry about.

I too will be off towards end of March for another extended stay in Sri Lanka.

Incidentally, the FCO were very quick off the mark updating the travel advice for Sri Lanka last night, and there is NO overall change to the advice that has been there for as long as i can remember.

Regards

Dave

Go, go,go. It%26#39;s most unlikely you%26#39;ll even see a whisper of trouble.

Hi Ebertie,

I have just returned from SL on the 19th of this month. I hadn%26#39;t heard about an air attack, however, there was a suicide bombing near Vavuniya which is in the far north of the country. Most of the conflict was confined to the north, unless of course the air attack you speak of was located somewhere else?

If you%26#39;re confining your holiday to the south coast, columbo, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, etc....you should be fine. As you say there are never any guarantees. I was in the country for a total of 5 weeks and the only evidence I experienced of a war was the security checks throughout Columbo and at different points over the country. In a word, I felt quite at ease whilst travelling...and I travelled as a single woman. Obviously, there are other perils you need to concern yourself with if you%26#39;re a female.

Hope this helps to ease you a bit.

Cheers

sinhala

Hi Ebertie,

Ditto to all the other replys. Have just returned from SL on 19th Feb after 5 weeks in country. Apart from security checks, no problems whilst travelling the country. Absolutely, no problem travelling on the south coast.

Planning and booking 2nd trip for June of this year....can%26#39;t wait to get back there.

Cheers

Sinhala

Thank you so much everyone for all your kind and supportive comments. Unfortunately it has made me very nervous and its a nervousness I am having trouble ignoring. I rang the travel company and they have been really understanding and have given me a full refund. Sri Lanka is a place I would love to visit, but I think at the moment I am going to take a rain check, once things are a little quieter I will definitely book that dream holiday again.

Thank you again for all your replies.

Ebertie x

Sorry to hear that Ebertie, but I guess you have to feel comfortable about your plans...

Hope to hear soon about your future plans for SL and that you do get there one day. It is a special place.

X

Sinhala

Please give me advice. Our trip (with wedding) should start on feb 28. We should visit Kandy and Beruwela. We are nervous. Thanks!