Officials have now confirmed at least 359 people were killed in the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka this past weekend, including 46 foreigners from more than a dozen countries, according to the latest update from Jewels of the Indian Ocean, a travel agency for Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Seychelles.
As tourists continue to flee the country in the wake of Sunday’s suicide bombings, authorities are encouraging people to be vigilant and travel only if absolutely necessary. Police have also been imposing island-wide curfews overnight.
MORE Impacting Travel
Meanwhile, special security measures remain in place at Colombo Airport. Passengers are being told to arrive at least five hours prior to departure due to increased security checks.
The U.S. State Department updated its travel advisory for Sri Lanka following Sunday’s attacks targeting both foreigners and local churchgoers, recommending American citizens exercise increased caution due to terrorism.
“Terrorist groups continue plotting possible attacks in Sri Lanka. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, local government facilities, hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, parks, major sporting and cultural events, educational institutions, airports and other public areas,” the State Department said on its website.
So far, 40 suspects have been arrested in connection with the attacks, which included a total of nine explosions in eight different locations with six coming in the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo.
Of the 46 foreign fatalities, ten were from India, six were from the U.K., three were from Denmark, one was from Japan, one was from the Netherlands, one was from Portugal, two were from Saudi Arabia, one was from Spain, two were from Turkey, two held U.S. and U.K. nationalities, two others held Australian and Sri Lankan nationalities, one was from Bangladesh and two were from China. Currently, at least 14 foreign nationals remain unaccounted for.
The Sri Lanka tourism industry is bracing for the fallout following Sunday’s attacks with many visitors prematurely ending their trips or canceling their upcoming vacations altogether.