The United States on Friday ordered all school-age members of families of American diplomats posted in Sri Lanka to leave the country saying terrorists groups “continue plotting possible attacks”, and raised its travel warning to “Level 3”, advising Americans to reconsider going there.

In an updated travel advisory issued following the Easter Sunday terrorist bombings, the US State Department also allowed the “voluntary departure” of non-emergency government employees of the American mission and their families.

The United States has joined a growing number of countries such as United Kingdom, Australia and Canada who have advised their citizens to cancel their plans to travel to Sri Lanka in the aftermath of the Easter Sunday bombings that killed 253 according to a revised official count.

The state department said in a travel advisory it had “ordered the departure of all school-age family members of US government employees in Kindergarten through 12th grade. The Department also authorized the voluntary departure of non-emergency U.S. government employees and family members.”

“Terrorist groups continue plotting possible attacks in Sri Lanka,” the travel advisory added. Meant for US citizens, the advisory also upgraded the safety and security warning for traveling to Sri Lanka to “Level 3: Reconsider travel”, from “Level 2: Exercise increased caution”. “Level 4: Do not travel” is the most dire alert, advising against traveling to countries in that category.