Sri Lanka Tourism issues fresh guidelines for tourists

COLOMBO (News1st) : As Sri Lanka prepares to reopen its doors for tourists from the 1st of August 2020, Sri Lanka Tourism has issued guidelines on how tourism would be encouraged while adapting to the 'New Normal' created following onset of Covid-19. Sri Lanka tourism states travelers from all nationalities will be allowed to enter the island while the Bandaranaike International Airport(BIA) and the Mattala Rajapaksa Hambanthota Airport(MRIA) will recommence operations from the 1st of August 2020. The Tourism body said that a minimum 5 - night stay in Sri Lanka is required for any foreign national entering Sri Lanka. Further, a negative PCR test is required before boarding a flight bound for Sri Lanka and upon arrival in Sri Lanka. The test should be no older than 72 hours prior to boarding. Upon arrival in Sri Lanka, a PCR test would be conducted at the airport free of charge, and travelers will not be directed to quarantine unless symptoms are detected. In case of a positive PCR result, quarantine in a designated hotel or hospitalization will take place. If symptoms are detected, an individual would have to undergo quarantine for 14 to 21 days.