OPERATORS serving Sri Lanka have cancelled their programmes
after gun battles at Colombo’s airport on Tuesday.
Despite the attack at the Bandaranaike International Airport
being described as an isolated incident, scenes of terrified tourists and
aircraft ripped apart by explosions will be a severe blow to Sri Lanka’s image.
Kuoni is cancelling its Sri Lanka programme until the end of
August and is offering customers a full refund or an alternative holiday.
The company has a group currently holidaying in Sri Lanka
who are being given the choice of continuing their holiday or leaving on the
next flight.
Small group holiday specialist Explore Worldwide and Somak
Holidays have cancelled their Sri Lanka trips until the end of August.
Cox and Kings is advising customers against travelling
during August.
India and Sri Lanka product manager Hugh Fraser said: “Anyone
booked to go within a month of the attack will not be sent to Sri Lanka.
Instead they will be offered an alternative destination or their money back.”
Fraser said it was too early to say whether winter bookings
would be affected.
Cox and Kings did not have any passengers in Sri Lanka at
the time of the airport attack.
Flag carrier Sri Lankan Airlines saw some of its fleet go up
in flames following attacks by Tamil Tigers but has managed to resume some
flights. Gulf Air resumed a normal service from Heathrow yesterday.
The Foreign Office advised against “all holiday and other
non-essential travel to Sri Lanka until further notice.”
Continued violence is feared in the run up to a referendum
on the constitution on August 21.