Sri Lanka offers free visa extensions for tourists and opens a crisis centre for migrant workers amid Middle East travel disruptions.
COLOMBO: Sri Lanka has announced a package of measures to protect tourists within its borders and support its migrant workers overseas amid the tense situation in the Middle East.
Tourists currently in Sri Lanka will receive a free two-week extension of their visa validity to ease difficulties caused by travel disruptions in the region.
The government has instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to work with relevant embassies to provide necessary facilities and ensure the safety and welfare of these visitors.
With airspace closures reported in several Middle Eastern countries, the ministry will coordinate with airlines to explore alternative routes to help tourists return home.
Officials will also discuss alternative travel options to ensure visitors planning to come to Sri Lanka can arrive without disruption.
Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment has opened a special operations centre for migrant workers abroad.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry said it has coordinated with Sri Lankan diplomatic missions across the Middle East to establish an integrated emergency response mechanism.
Both the diplomatic missions and the foreign employment bureau are now on standby to respond to any emergencies affecting Sri Lankan citizens.
