KUALA LUMPUR - Sri Lanka has announced a package of measures to safeguard tourists within its borders and support its migrant workers overseas amid rising tensions in the Middle East.

Tourists currently in the country will be granted a free two-week extension of their visa validity to ease difficulties caused by regional travel disruptions, as reported by The Sun.

The government has directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to coordinate with relevant embassies to provide necessary assistance and ensure the safety and welfare of affected visitors.

In response to reported airspace closures in several Middle Eastern countries, the ministry will work with airlines to explore alternative routes for tourists returning home.

Officials will also discuss alternative travel arrangements to ensure visitors planning to travel to Sri Lanka can arrive without disruption.

Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment has established a special operations centre to assist migrant workers abroad.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it has coordinated with Sri Lankan diplomatic missions across the Middle East to set up an integrated emergency response mechanism.

Both diplomatic missions and the foreign employment bureau remain on standby to respond promptly to any emergencies involving Sri Lankan citizens.