No more approval needed for NGOs to travel to Northern Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka Defence Ministry has lifted from today all the restrictions that were imposed on the diplomats, and international and local Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to travel to the war-torn North.

Accordingly, the NGOs and diplomats can travel to the North without producing a Ministry of Defense (MOD) travel approval document.

However, the individuals and groups plan to visit military installations in the North or meet with military officials will still require approval from the Defence Ministry.

The Sri Lankan government last week lifted all travel restrictions it had imposed on foreign passport holders including the expatriate Sri Lankans with foreign passports.

Foreign travelers were required to get permission from the MOD before travelling to the northern districts of Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mannar, Mullaitivu, and Vavuniya.