Colombo airport asks passengers to check in four hours before flights after terror attacks in Sri Lanka’s capital

Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Sri Lanka’s capital city of Colombo has requested all passengers to be at the airport four hours prior to their flight. The BIA has restricted access to visitors owing to heightened security, according to the country’s state-run daily.

The safety and security measures have been implemented after multiple explosions targeting churches and hotels in Colombo killed at least 156, including 35 foreigners, on Easter Sunday, according to agency reports.

Hundreds of worshipers gathered at the St. Anthony's Church in Kochchikade, Kotahena, St. Sebastian's Church in Katuwapitiya in Katana, and the Zion church in Batticaloa to commemorate Easter Sunday, at the time of the explosions. The other three blasts where reported at the Shangri-La, Cinnamon Grand and Kingsbury five-star hotels in Colombo.

The US embassy in Colombo has asked travellers to follow instructions from local authorities and advised them saying “Please shelter in place and exercise extreme caution.”

The United Kingdom, too, has issued a travel advisory for tourists travelling to Sri Lanka.

"There have been a number of explosions in Sri Lanka, including Colombo, on Sunday 21 April. Please follow the instructions of local security officials and follow travel advice for updates," the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, UK said while issuing a notice for people travelling to and from Sri Lanka.

No one has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.