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International SOS, a company that is into health and security risk management and services over 9000 large corporations in over 90 countries of the world, in its latest travel advisory to the business managers and BCP leaders, has asked to defer their travel to Sri Lanka for some time more. The company has given this advisory considering the political impasse in the country, the nationwide State of Emergency, and also the shortage in terms of fuel and medicines in the country.
Although there is an adequate deployment of armed forces in all the 25 districts in the country to protect public order and maintain the supply of essential products and services, protests linked to issues such as fuel shortages and power cuts will persist in the coming weeks. These will carry the potential for unrest, posing incidental risks to bystanders, International SOS says in its latest advisory.
In a statement, Udit Mehta, Executive Vice President & Director of Operations for International SOS, said, “The ongoing situation and political impasse in Sri Lanka presents a precarious environment for organisations across government, private and IGO sectors operating in the country. The situation warrants critical, credible and timely situational intelligence to navigate complexities brought by the protests and resilient business continuity planning that should reflect flexibility in keeping with the fluid on-ground situation.”
Tourism accounts for about 5 per cent of Sri Lanka’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), with Britain, India and China being the main markets. Sri Lanka is facing its worst foreign exchange crisis after the Covid-19 pandemic hit the island nation’s earnings from tourism and remittances.
Mehta who also deployed to Colombo to lead an International SOS Incident Management Team of security experts and doctors post the Easter Sunday bombings in April 2019 adds, “International SOS being at the helm of helping organisations address challenges brought by the unsettled geopolitical environment in Sri Lanka is strongly recommending access to credible information as well as robust planning including earmarking safe havens should the situation escalate. Additionally, given the ongoing fuel shortages and consequent disruption to Medical Supplies in Sri Lanka we are well positioned to provision for critical medication where needed.”International SOS is assisting and supporting clients following the crisis that broke out in the South Asian nation and feels that the situation is still volatile in the island nation for any kind of inbound travel to resume. For people already there in Sri Lanka, the company has asked to avoid non-necessary movement because there are chances of spontaneous demonstrations in the country due to a shortage of essential supplies.
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