A tourist poses for photos with mangroves at Beddagana Wetland Park in Colombo, Sri Lanka, July 24, 2025. July 26 marks the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem. Sri Lanka's mangroves play an important role in purifying seawater, buffering coastal storms, sequestering carbon and sustaining biodiversity. (Photo by Gayan Sameera/Xinhua)

Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka issued a statement on Wednesday reminding Chinese tourists to strictly comply with local laws and regulations to avoid negatively affecting image of Chinese nationals in the country, and ensure legitimate rights and interests and travel itinerary of Chinese nationals are not affected. 

According to the statement released by the WeChat account of the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka, incidents of Chinese nationals in Sri Lanka being detained or questioned by local authorities for suspected violations of local laws and regulations have occurred frequently in recent times. These incidents have negatively affected the public image of Chinese nationals in Sri Lanka and may also impact legitimate rights and travel plans of Chinese citizens. 

With summer vacation underway, the number of Chinese tourists visiting Sri Lanka is increasing significantly. While the Chinese Embassy firmly safeguards the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese nationals in accordance with the laws and interests, it also reminds them to strictly comply with local laws and regulations. 

The embassy reminds Chinese tourists to abide by Sri Lankan laws and regulations, and respect local customs and traditions. 

According to the embassy, it is strictly prohibited to bring cigarettes into the country, or to bring items such as Salacia chinensis, a climbing plant, animal and plant specimens, or foreign currency, gemstones, and other valuables exceeding the permitted limits out of the country. 

The embassy also reminds the Chinese tourists not to engage in activities that are inconsistent with the type of visa they hold, and under no circumstances should they engage in illegal or criminal activities. 

The embassy reminds that Chinese tourists should consciously resist and stay away from pornography, gambling, and drugs and Chinese nationals abroad must abide by both the Chinese and Sri Lankan laws and regulations. 
According to the embassy, the amended China’s Criminal Law has officially criminalized cross-border gambling. Chinese nationals who participate in gambling activities abroad may be in violation of Chinese law. Particularly those involved in organizing gambling or gambling events will be held legally accountable in accordance with the law. 

The Chinese embassy also reminds the Chinese tourists that it is prohibited to unlawfully use a passport as collateral or to withhold someone else’s passport. 

According to Article 2 of China’s Passport Law, the passport of the People’s Republic of China is a document certifying the nationality and identity of a citizen of the People’s Republic of China when he leaves and enters the territory of the People's Republic of China or when he is abroad. No organization or individual may forge, tamper with, transfer, intentionally damage or destroy or illegally seize a passport. 

The embassy reminds Chinese nationals in Sri Lanka not to illegally use their passports as collateral or unlawfully withhold others’ passports. If a Chinese tourist’s passport is illegally withheld by others in Sri Lanka, they should immediately report the incident to the local police and truthfully notify the Chinese embassy without delay, the statement said. 

Global Times