January 22, 2021
1 min read

SL reopens borders for tourists

Sri Lanka has completely reopened its borders to tourists and international arrivals, after flight operations were suspended 10 months ago in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

An Oman Air flight carrying 50 Sri Lankans arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Colombo early Thursday, reports Xinhua news agency.

Speaking to the media here, Minister of Tourism Prasanna Ranatunga thanked President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa for reviving the Covid-19-affected tourism industry which employs three million people.

Ranatunga however said the country was not targeting a particular number of tourists at this juncture for the year, as it was too early to predict.

“We are trying to attract as many tourists as possible,” he said.

“All airlines that were operating to Sri Lanka pre-Covid have expressed interest in resuming operations. But given the pandemic situation, we understand that it will take time to gradually get to the same level of operations.”

Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) Chairperson Kimarli Fernando said that the Tourism Ministry has formulated detailed safety protocols and procedures in consultation with the Health Ministry and the presidential task force on Covid-19.

“With all these measures, processes and protocols sat in place, Sri Lanka is ready and Sri Lanka is open to welcome back our visitors,” Fernando said.

Tourism authorities have created an online information portal and a 24-hour operational centre, with which tourists can have access to support and information updates via phone or e-mail.

Sri Lanka currently has a PCR testing capacity for 2,500 tourist arrivals per day.

Tourists will have to purchase insurance and pay for their own PCR tests.

Currently, there is no quarantine period or minimum stay set for visiting tourists.

The Bandaranaike International Airport in the country’s west and the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport in the south are both currently opened to scheduled and chartered flights from at least eight airlines including the island nation’s flag carrier SriLankan Airlines.

On Thursday, Sri Lanka registered more than 800 new coronavirus cases, increasing the national tally to to 56,076.

The overall death toll stood at 274.

Also Read-Anthony Fauci Returns To WH

Previous Story

Bangladesh thanks India for providing vaccines

Next Story

Oversight board to review Trump ban on Facebook

Latest from -Top News

Modi Eyes Trade Deals in Maldives

PM Modi will arrive in Maldives on July 25 which would be the second and final leg of his two-nation visit, following the visit to the United Kingdom, starting Wednesday….reports Asian Lite

PM Modi Due in UK

PM Modi’s visit to the UK, scheduled for July 23–24, comes at the invitation of British counterpart Keir Starmer and will be his fourth trip to the country….reports Asian Lite News Prime

US Brings Up Old Claim, India Pushes Back

US Raises Trump’s India-Pakistan Claim at UN; India Reaffirms Bilateral Stand…reports Asian Lite News The US brought President Trump’s May claim of resolving the India-Pakistan conflict to the Security Council, but New

Dhaka in Tight Spot Over US Tariffs

The US has identified non-tariff barriers in 13 sectors, including medicine, agriculture, and the environment, and has set nearly half a dozen conditions for effective action. Bangladesh, grappling with sluggish economic growth
Go toTop