Japan relaxes travel advisory to North

The Japanese Foreign Ministry announced that Japan will further relax its travel advisory on the Northern Province of Sri Lanka, based upon the information provided by the Japanese embassy in Sri Lanka.

The ministry earlier informed Japanese nationals to consider whether or not to travel to areas other than Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya and Mannar.

A Japanese embassy release said: "Following the improvement in the current security situation in the country, the ministry has decided to reduce the security

cautionary level in Jaffna, Kilinochchi and Vavuniya districts on par with the city of Colombo.

"Accordingly, the revised travel advisory has been categorised on the level of Travel Caution (Level 1), which advises Japanese nationals to stay alert to the security situation and take necessary precautions.

"Travel to Mullaithivu district and some of the areas in Mannar district in the Northern Province, would prevail at the level of recommendation to consider whether or not to travel (Level 2) due to mine clearing activities which are in progress."