Colombo: Sri Lanka's new president Maithripala Sirisena on Friday ordered the lifting of travel restrictions for foreigners in the former war zone in the Tamil north and also removed an embargo on transporting goods.
Sirisena chaired his first meeting of the national security council, a week after assuming office.
"In view of the improved security situation and normalisation of life it was decided to lift travel restrictions imposed on foreign passport holders to the north," military spokesman Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasuriya said.
The previous administration of President Mahinda Rajapaksa in October had issued the new travel restrictions which required foreigners to seek prior permission when travelling to the north.
The security council also decided to relax restrictions on transporting goods to the north other than military equipment.
