Sri Lanka urges citizens not to travel to Lebanon and Syria

Sri Lankan nationals are instructed not to travel to Lebanon and Syria until further notice due to the current volatile situation in the region, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said today.

Issuing a notice, it said all Sri Lankans who are currently in Lebanon and Syria are strongly requested to be on alert and to take necessary precautions including restricting their outside movements and maintaining regular contacts with the Sri Lanka Embassy in Beirut and the Honorary Consul of Sri Lanka in Damascus. 

They are requested to maintain regular contact through the Email ID: slemb.beiruit@mfa.gov.lk, or the following emergency hotlines: 

0094 771102510 - Mr. Sanath Balasuriya 
0094 718381581 - Ms. Priyangi Dissanayake
00961 81485809 - Mr. Fahd Hawwa 

Honorary Consul of Sri Lanka in Damascus, Dr. Al Droubi: 

Email ID: mmd@aldroubi.com 
Phone: 00963 944499666, 00963 933858803

For just under a year, Israel has been fighting Hamas in Gaza, in an effort to dismantle the militant group after it led attacks on Israel on Oct 7, 2023.

In September, the conflict has widened as Israel launched the biggest air strikes on Lebanon in nearly two decades, targeting the Hezbollah movement, which has been rocketing Israel in solidarity with the Palestinians.