Thais warned to be aware of escalating violence in Sri Lanka

BANGKOK, Aug 26 (TNA) - Thai nationals in Sri Lanka and those wanting to travel to the South Asian nation should beware of escalating violence in the country, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned here on Saturday.

Department of Information Director General Kitti Wasinondh, who is also the ministry's spokesman, acknowledged that the violence in Sri Lanka's northern and eastern regions--and even in the country's capital of Colombo, caused by a prolonged political conflict between the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), also known as the Tamil Tigers, has intensified.

"The Thai community in Sri Lanka should, therefore, beware of the escalating violence, always follow the updated situation and immediately contact the Thai Embassy to Sri Lanka in case of emergency," he cautioned.

"Thai nationals who are visiting the South Asian nation should also seek official information on the updated situation there from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at Tel. 02-6435043 prior to their departures," he suggested, "and when arriving in the country, please report to the Thai Embassy to Sri Lanka at Tel. (9411) 230-2500-3, 230-4514, 230-2482 so that the embassy can immediately contact you whenever necessary."

LTTE is a politico-military organization that has been waging a violent secessionist campaign against the government in Colombo since the 1970s in order to secure a separate state for the majority Tamil regions in the country.

TNA