On 22 July the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office revised its travel guidance for Sri Lanka, warning that regional airspace closures linked to the Middle-East crisis are causing diversions and cancellations on routes between Colombo and the UK. The notice highlights that some carriers have rerouted via Southeast Asia, lengthening journey times by up to five hours. Business travellers are advised to monitor airline updates closely and consider alternative hubs such as Singapore or Kuala Lumpur. The Sri Lankan government has introduced weekly fuel quotas for all vehicles, but has promised special allocations for tour operators and hotels – a measure that should shield corporate group movements yet could reduce ad-hoc taxi availability. The update also confirms that Sri Lanka’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is now free of charge until 30 November 2026, part of a tourism-recovery package. Travellers should still apply online and keep a digital copy of approval to show on departure from the UK and on arrival in Colombo. From a duty-of-care perspective, UK employers should review itineraries for staff transiting through the Middle East in the coming weeks and ensure travel insurance covers extended delays. Mobility teams relocating personnel to Sri Lanka on project assignments should budget for potential temporary accommodation if flights are rescheduled at short notice. The FCDO will issue further updates as the situation evolves; subscribers can sign up for email alerts on the GOV.UK page.
Source: FCDO Travel Advice
