Australia issues Travel warning to its citizens as the escalation of violence intensifies outside of north and east of Sri Lanka too. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) had attacked and overrun a military post inside Sri Lanka's most popular Yala wildlife sanctuary and Anudrahapura airbase were attacked on October 22, 2007.  "We advise you to reconsider your need to travel to Sri Lanka at this time because of ongoing civil unrest, the volatile security situation and the very high risk of terrorist attacks. Attacks occur frequently and further attacks can happen at any time, anywhere in Sri Lanka," the Australian government said adding, "Australians could inadvertently become victims of violence directed at others, in particular Sri Lankan government and military targets." 

The Australians were warned that Colombo too could be a target – "A recent escalation of conflict in the north and other parts of the country may provoke further terrorist attacks, including in Colombo. You should exercise extreme caution, maintain high personal security awareness and avoid locations known to be targeted by terrorists in Sri Lanka." The advisory warns that the killing of S P Tamilselvan has increased the risk of more violence.  

"Tensions between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) are high.  

"On 2 November 2007, the LTTE announced that the leader of the LTTE’s political wing SP Tamilchelvan, was killed in an aerial attack by the Sri Lanka Air Force. This event may increase the risk of further attacks by the LTTE in any part of Sri Lanka," it said. 

The advisory also said that there was a risk of foreigners being abducted in Colombo for ransom. "There is a danger of kidnapping for ransom of foreign nationals in Sri Lanka, including in Colombo." 

Australia is the latest country to join with USA, UK, Italy, Germany, France and Canada to warn their citizens and asked their citizens not to travel to north and east of Sri Lanka while warns them about the rest of the Sri Lanka also at risk of attacks from the LTTE and pointed out, the LTTE attacks such as March 26, 2007 attack on the Katunayake Air Force Base, April 29, 2007, attack on two oil facilities in the Colombo area, October 15, 2007, attack on a Sri Lankan Army camp in Yala Wildlife Sanctuary, attack on Anudradhapura air base on October 22, 2007 and assassination of the political wing leader S.P Thamilchelvan on November 2, 2007.   

"Some friends said it was very stupid for us to come here because of the military conflict," a tourist from Britain said in Colombo.The Sri Lanka tourism industry is considered to be one of the top foreign exchange earners for the country has suffered another body blow with the attack on the wildlife sanctuary and Anudradhapura air base last month. The attack worries hundreds of thousands of people involved in the country’s lucrative tourism industry of Sri Lanka as the industry is already suffering badly due to the escalated violence, rights violations and intensified headlines regarding military operations in the country.