The UK Foreign Office has issued an urgent update warning British travellers not to carry cannabis or illegal drugs to Sri Lanka, following the arrest of a 21-year-old woman caught with 46kg of cannabis at the airport. Harsh penalties and long jail terms await offenders.
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The British government has issued a stern warning to its citizens travelling to Sri Lanka, stressing that possession or transportation of cannabis and other illegal drugs can lead to arrest, imprisonment, and heavy fines. The update, issued by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, follows a high-profile arrest of a 21-year-old British woman, Charlotte May Lee, who was caught with 46 kilograms of cannabis upon arriving at Sri Lanka’s Bandaranaike International Airport.
Lee, who had travelled from London via Thailand, denied knowledge of the drugs found in her luggage. Despite her claims, she remains in custody as Sri Lankan authorities proceed with legal action. Her arrest triggered the British government to revise its official travel guidance to Sri Lanka, highlighting the country’s zero-tolerance policy towards drug offences.
The UK’s updated advisory emphasizes that Sri Lankan airports are now using advanced detection technology to screen passengers’ luggage and identify illegal substances. Even minor possession of drugs such as cannabis can result in long prison sentences, steep fines, and prolonged detention before trial under the Prevention of Terrorism Act or other strict legal provisions.
The Foreign Office warns that those caught violating Sri Lanka’s drug laws, whether at the airport or within the country, should expect to be detained without charge for extended periods and prosecuted under harsh anti-drug and anti-terror legislation.
With increasing surveillance and enforcement by Sri Lankan airport and customs authorities, British nationals are being urged to review local laws before travelling and avoid transporting any prohibited substances, including marijuana, which remains strictly illegal despite its recreational acceptance in some Western nations.
