Israel warns against non-essential travel to Sri Lanka as turmoil worsens

Lazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter

Police use tear gas to disperse the protesters who stormed the compound of prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe 's office, demanding he resign after president Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country amid economic crisis in Colombo, Sri Lanka, July 13, 2022 (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Police use tear gas to disperse the protesters who stormed the compound of prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe 's office, demanding he resign after president Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country amid economic crisis in Colombo, Sri Lanka, July 13, 2022 (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

The Foreign Ministry recommends that Israelis avoid all non-essential travel to Sri Lanka, after political turmoil gripping the country worsens.

“Israeli citizens in Sri Lanka are recommended to take into account the deteriorating economic situation that has resulted in an intensified shortage of fuel, cooking gas, and even food,” the Foreign Ministry travel warning continues. “This situation could develop into additional deteriorating of authorities’ ability to govern, which could include chaos in some areas of the country.”

The Foreign Ministry warns that leaving the country could be difficult because of uncertainty around flights leaving the capital, Colombo.

Sri Lanka’s president and prime minister agreed to resign Saturday after the country’s most chaotic day in months of political turmoil, with protesters storming both officials’ homes and setting fire to one of the buildings in a rage over the nation’s severe economic crisis.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country on Wednesday, and his replacement declared a state of emergency.

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