UK warns against travel to Sri Lanka due to economic crisis

Three-wheelers queue to buy petrol in Colombo, Sri Lanka

Three-wheelers queue to buy petrol due to fuel shortage, amid the country’s economic crisis, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, July 05 2022. (REUTERS / Dinuka Liyanawatte)

Britain’s Foreign Office said on Tuesday it was now advising against all but essential travel to Sri Lanka due to the impact of the country’s economic crisis.

Economic mismanagement and the aftermath of COVID-19 have left the cash-strapped country of 22 million people unable to pay for essential imports of food, fertiliser, medicines and fuel because of a severe dollar crunch.

“Sri Lanka is experiencing a severe economic crisis which has led to shortages of basic necessities including medicines, cooking gas, fuel and food,” the British government said.

(Reuters)