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aking serious note of protest against its
nationals visiting Tamil Nadu on a pilgrimage, Sri Lanka today warned its citizens
against travelling to the southern Indian state where they were facing
"increasing number of instances of intimidation."
The External Affairs Ministry here also said that
184 pilgrims will be returning to Sri Lanka from Tamil Nadu on a special
flight.
Issuing a travel advisory, the ministry said,
"the government of Sri Lanka regrets the increasing number of
instances of intimidation of Sri Lankan nationals visiting Tamil Nadu for
the purposes of tourism, religious pilgrimages, sporting and cultural
activities and professional training.
"These visits are a reflection of
people-to-people contact between the polity of two countries which are
bound by age-old friendly ties and traditions."
The government here is constrained to request Sri
Lankan nationals in the interest of their security to desist from
undertaking visits to Tamil Nadu until further notice, it said.
In the event there is a compelling reason to visit
Tamil Nadu, such a visit should take place following prior timely
intimation to the Sri Lanka Deputy High Commission in Chennai, the ministry
said.
A Rajakaruna, an official of the Sri Lankan Deputy
High Commission in Chennai, told local media here on the phone that all
other Sri Lanka-connected institutions in the Tamil Nadu capital were safe.
He said special security has been provided at the
Mahabodhi Society offices in Chennai, a prominent Buddhist religious
institution.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has been
urging the Centre to curtail training for visiting Sri Lankan defence officials
in the state. She also ordered the return of a Sri Lankan football team.
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