Terror among tourists in Sri Lanka

kandy - The hundreds of Dutch tourists in holiday paradise Sri Lanka are terrified, now that the government has declared a state of emergency after ethnic violence between Muslims and Buddhists. In addition, deaths have also occurred.

Armed soldiers have taken control. Roadblocks and checkpoints everywhere. There is a curfew and social media are out of the blue. To make matters worse, the heart of the hot seat is the tourist Kandy in the middle of the island. Many backpackers and round travelers come here.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs warns of more serious incidents in Sri Lanka. 'Listen carefully to the news reports and follow the instructions and instructions from local authorities. Stay in as much as possible ', is the travel advice.

Romee Linnekamp is stuck in Kandy with his girlfriend Mette Dijkstra. 'We receive varying information. The curfew also applies to us. We have to stay in our hostel and do not know where we stand. We hope that the situation is not too bad and that we can continue quickly. For the time being, we see tight faces everywhere. Religious shrines remain closed, because attacks are feared. The streets look deserted, 'she says.

In the rooftop bar of the Clock Inn Hostel in the middle of Kandy there are dozens of stranded travelers. They have been picked from the street. Two German friends Charlotte (20) and Josephine (20) sat on a bench in the Buddhist Temple of the Tooth, but they were sent away. 'It was busy when panic broke out. Everyone started to scream. Soldiers ran into the temple. Total chaos. '

The tourists in the rooftop bar agree that a lot of fake news buzzes around. The whole city would be on fire, but that is nonsense, according to eyewitnesses. The Internet is blocked, according to them, is especially frustrating for the home front.

They are not allowed to leave their residence, but the hostel does everything to keep the guests entertained. An employee picks up a guitar and starts playing Hotel California. The staff come together in the kitchen to prepare a free meal. All shops and restaurants are closed on the street.

The Dutch Sven and Francis sidestepped the riots in the mountains around Kandy. 'On our excursion, our driver became nervous. He had a white flag with him and had to drive up a mountain road along cliffs to avoid a blockade. That was scary. It was heated up among the local population. The driver quickly locked the car doors. '

Dutch travel organizations keep their finger on the pulse. 'From our tour guide on the spot we learn that it is reasonably quiet in Sri Lanka. Our guests are safe. They are not involved in the disturbances. For the time being, the round trips just continue. We do, however, avoid problem areas ', according to TUI.