The following information was provided in a 14 April 1997 telephone interview with the Sri Lanka Tourist Board Information Desk at Colombo's International Airport.

The only road from Colombo to Colombo International Airport, renamed the Bandaranaike International Airport last year, is the 34 km-long Canada Friendship Road. The drive from the capital to the airport takes approximately an hour by car.

At present, there is no security checkpoint for foreigners along the Canada Friendship Road between the airport and Colombo until one reaches the airport entrance. Policemen, if suspicious, can stop vehicles at the checkpoint located at the "18 Mile Post" Junction near Negombo, between Negombo and the airport. However, tourists are not stopped at this checkpoint.

The Sri Lanka Tourist Board Information Desk staff person stated that since January 1995 and even earlier, there were checkpoints along the Canada Friendship Road to the airport, but the source was unable to specify how many checkpoints there were or provide their locations.

Please see the attachments for general information since January 1995 on security precautions and tightened security at the international airport following LTTE threats and terrorist attacks.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

Reference

Sri Lanka Tourist Board Information Desk, Bandaranaike International Airport, Colombo. 14 April 1997. Telephone interview.

Attachments

Agence France Presse [Hong Kong, in English]. 3 November 1995. "Airport Introduces Sweeping Measures as Tiger War Escalates." (FBIS-NES-TOT-95-023-L 3 Nov. 1995) [Internet] [Accessed 8 Apr. 1997]

The Associated Press. 31 January 1996. Arthur Max. "Two weeks ago, the Sri Lankan government offered a new proposal for peace with its rebellious Tamil minority. On Wednesday, a devastating terrorist attack shattered hopes for a settlement." (NEXIS)

Los Angeles Times. 30 June 1995. John-Thor Dahlburg. "Sri Lanka; Civil War Imperils Tourism." (NEXIS)

Reuters. 25 November 1995. BC Cycle. "Sri Lanka Plane Departs After False Alarm." (NEXIS)

Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation Radio External Service [Colombo, in English]. 20 June 1995. "Airport Security Increased After Tamil Tiger Threat." (BBC Summary 22 June 1995/NEXIS)

The Xinhua News Agency. 19 August 1995. "Security Tightened at Colombo Airport." (NEXIS)

World Airport Week. 23 May 1995. "Traffic at Colombo Airport Affected by Break in Tamil Ceasefire." (NEXIS)

Additional Sources Consulted

Amnesty International. August 1996.

Sri Lanka: Wavering Commitment to Human Rights.

_____. December 1995.

Sri Lanka: Under Scrutiny by the Human Rights Committee.

_____. July 1995.

Sri Lanka: Security Measures Violate Human Rights.

Foreign Broadcast Information Service (FBIS) Daily Reports. (Internet)

Internet search.

Keesing's Record of World Events [Cambridge]. Monthly. September 1996-January 1997.

News from Asia Watch [New York]. Monthly. 1995-present.
The Refugee Council. February 1997.

Protection Denied: Sri Lankan Tamils, the Home Office and the Forgotten Civil War.

Sri Lanka Information Monitor: Situation Update [Colombo]. Monthly. October 1996-February 1997.

Sri Lanka Monitor [London]. Monthly. September 1996-January 1997.

Tamil Information [London]. January-February 1996 to June-September 1996.

Tamil Times [Surrey]. Monthly. September 1996-March 1997.

On-line search of media sources.