Consulate General of Sri Lanka, Toronto

23rd  April 2019

Media Release

Following the acts of terror that took place on Easter Sunday,  Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) and Sri Lanka Tourism Development  Authority (SLTDA) have continued to engage with high-level  government  officials  and tourism  stakeholders  in order to assess the current situation and have taken necessary  steps to ensure all possible  assistance is provided to tourists in need of help.

Sri  Lanka   Tourism   is   deeply   shocked   and   saddened   by   the   senseless   violence   and unreservedly    condemns   these   dastardly   acts.   We   offer   our   deepest   sympathies   and condolences to all the victims and their families, while wishing a speedy recovery to all those injured and currently receiving treatment.

In the immediate aftermath  of the explosions  Sri Lanka Tourism deployed trained emergency response  teams  and its representatives  at hospitals,  affected  hotels  and the airport  to assist tourists  in  any  way  possible  including  hotel  transfers,  airline  bookings,  airport  transfers, itinerary  changes, hospital  treatment,   contacting  their  loved  ones  and  reuniting   missing family members through diplomatic channels.

In addition  a 24 hour emergency  support desk has been established  and can be accessed  as follows;

Emergency local hotline number to assist tourists currently in Sri Lanka - 1912

Emergency hotline to assist families of affected foreign nationals +94 11 2322485

Sri Lanka Tourism wishes to assure tourists who are already in the country and unaffected  by the terror uuucks that the police, tourism police uud security forces urc jointly  implementing  a comprehensive  security  plan  to ensure their safety across the island including  all important tourism  sites. Meanwhile  a security  briefing  was held  on 22nd April  for hotel  owners  and operators on the new safety measures that are being rolled out and to seek their cooperation in strengthening security at hotels and resorts.

Sri Lanka Tourism would like to reassure the world that the country is open for business  and all possible measures have been taken to ensure the safety and security of tourists. Our world famous tourism  sites, hotels,  resorts  and other tourist  attractions  will remain  open as usual. There are no road closures or restrictions on movement anywhere in the island.

Sri Lanka is a proudly  diverse nation which celebrates its multicultural  nature. Since the end of the war  a decade  ago,  Sri Lanka  has  enjoyed  absolute  peace  and it will  do everything within its power to maintain  the peace that every Sri Lankan  cherishes and rebuild what has been destroyed with renewed vigour. There is no place for terrorism of any kind in Sri Lanka and whoever  that  is responsible  for the  Easter  Sunday  violence  will  be hunted  down  and punished in the strongest possible manner.

Sri Lanka  Tourism   looks  forward   to warmly   welcome   all those  who  have  planned   trips  to the country  in the days,  weeks  and months   ahead.

(Concluded)

Ministry  of Tourism  Development,   Wildlife  and  Christian   Religious  Affairs

No. 78, Galle Road,  Colombo  3, Sri Lanka

Office: +94112382206

Fax: +94112382218

Mobile:  +94 777 354 794

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Web:www.tuurismmin.sutvo .lk/ www.si-ilnnka.travel

The Sri Lanka High Commission has assigned the following points of contact to respond/assist public inquires on the situation in Sri Lanka in the aftermath of the explosions on Sunday  21^stApril, 2019.

The following officers may be contacted on matters related to Consular Affairs, Media, Travel and Tourism or any other matters of concern. Please note that the High Commission will only respond to specific queries of concern and relevance and not to general queries on the situation.

For Urgent Inquires                                                                      Contact Details

Mission Hotline                                                                             613-233-8449

Mrs. J. Ellepola/ Mr. S.Amarakoon                                                             slhcit@rogers.com

For Consular Matters 613-233-3994

Mrs.S. Khan                                                                                         This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

                                                                                                                613-233-3994

For Media, Travel and Tourism                                                            This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it                                                             

Mrs.Mithila Perera                                                                                613-233-1550   

24 hour hotline for inquires on affected foreign nationals

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sri Lanka                                                     +94 11 232 3015

In addition to the above, the following Sri Lanka Police helpline is also available for assistance.

Sri Lanka Police Helpline                                                            +94 11 232 2485

Sri Lanka High Commission

Ottawa

21^st April 2019

The following official can be Contacted with regard to any Consular and Media inquiries one the explosions that occurred on 21/04/2019 Sri Lanka

Consular /Ministry of  Foreign Affairs Sri Lanka

2.Ms. Sachini Dias

  Assistant Director / Consular Affairs

  Mobile : +94 766 230 974

Media/Ministry of  Foreign Affairs Sri Lanka

1.Mrs. Saroja Sirisena

Director General / Public Diplomacy

Mobile : +94 777 328 8348

2.Mr. Niluka Kadurugamuwa

Director / Public Diplomacy

Mobile : +94 773 398 9623

3.Mr.Thulan Bandara

Assistant Director /Public Diplomacy

Mobile : +94 714 253 117

Following the explosions that took place in Colombo, Negombo and Batticaloa, earlier today, the number of foreign nationals who have been identified as deceased at the National Hospital in Colombo stands at eleven.  The fatalities are: three (03) from India, one (01) from Portugal, two (02) from Turkey, three (03) from the UK, and two (02) holding US and UK nationalities.

Additionally, while nine foreign nationals are reported missing, there are twenty five unidentified bodies believed to be of foreigners at the Colombo Judicial Medical Officer’s mortuary.

Furthermore, as at 6pm today, 19 foreign nationals injured in the attacks are receiving treatment at the Colombo National Hospital.

Directors of Negombo and Batticaloa General Hospitals and the Colombo North Teaching Hospital have informed the Foreign Ministry that no foreigners have been admitted with injuries or declared dead at their respective hospitals.

Foreign Secretary Ravinatha Aryasinha and Tourism, Wildlife and Christian Religious Affairs Secretary S. Hettiarachchi visited the Colombo National Hospital this afternoon where victims were receiving treatment and also the mortuary to express condolences to the bereaved families. The respective Colombo-based Heads of Mission of the countries of the deceased as well as Sri Lanka Missions overseas have been informed of the casualties.

The Foreign Ministry is in close contact with the relevant hospital authorities on the identification of the remaining victims. The Ministry will continue to monitor the welfare of the foreign nationals receiving treatment.

An emergency hotline to assist families of the affected foreign nationals will be operational 24 hours at +94 112323015.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

21 April 2019