Sri Lanka, India discuss travel advisory

Sri Lanka is holding discussions with India to lift a travel advisory issued after 184 Sri Lankan pilgrims were attacked in Tamil Nadu, a government spokesman said Thursday.

Colombo hopes to withdraw the advisory as soon as possible and is currently discussing security for local travellers, cabinet spokesman and Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella was quoted as saying by Xinhua.

"There has been no tension between the two governments and engagement is fruitful," he said.

A visit by Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa to India will go ahead as planned, the spokesman said.

The pilgrims returned to Sri Lanka last week on a special flight ordered by Rajapaksa.

Following increasing instances of intimidation, Sri Lanka issued an official advisory calling on travellers to notify the Sri Lankan mission in Chennai before undertaking any travel to Tamil Nadu, Xinhua said.

The report said the pilgrim attack significantly reduced airline revenue while tour operators reported a drop of 60 percent of travellers from Sri Lanka.