Welcome back to Sri Lanka – Latest update on Sri Lanka Tourism

Sri Lanka Tourism Operational Guidelines with Health Protocols

Ayubowan! Welcome back to Sri Lanka; The latest update issued. The latest update on Sri Lanka Tourism declares that Sri Lanka prepares to reopen its doors for tourists from the 1st of August 2020. Following the onset of Covid-19, Sri Lanka Tourism has issued guidelines on how tourism would be encouraged while adapting to the ‘New Normal’ created.

The latest update issued by the government in Sri Lanka declares that Sri Lanka prepares to reopen its doors for tourists from the 1st of August 2020. Following the onset of Covid-19, Sri Lanka Tourism has issued guidelines on how tourism would be encouraged while adapting to the ‘New Normal’ created.

Sri Lanka tourism states that travelers from all nationalities will be allowed to enter the island. From the 1st of August 2020, The Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) and the Mattala Rajapaksa Hambanthota Airport (MRIA) will restart operations.

Here are the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) if you are planning to visit Sri Lanka created by Sri Lanka Tourism.

1. Who can visit Sri Lanka?

• All nationalities are welcome and all types of travelers whether groups, families, or individuals.

2.  Which airports will operate?

• Bandaranaike International Airport [BIA], Colombo Ratmalana Airport [RMA] and Mattala Rajapaksa Hambantota Airport [MRIA] will be operating for tourist arrivals from Aug 1 2020.

3. What are the visa procedures?

• All travelers will require a valid visa; this will be issued for 30 days and extendable for up to 6 months after arrival. Online visa at http://www.eta.gov.lk/slvisa/ 
• Further relaxation for long stay guests is currently under consideration, enabling tourists to be granted five-year multiple-entry visas with a maximum of 6 months’ stay.
• The Visa fee is US$100

4. Information required for visa application

• Booking details at Certified Accommodation
• Itinerary in Sri Lanka
• Return ticket
• Proof of medical insurance

5. Where can I stay and is there a minimum duration?

• A minimum 5-night stay in Sri Lanka is required.
• Independent professional audits will be done to certify accommodation providers who will be listed on the Sri Lanka tourism website. Details of bookings made with Certified Accommodation providers are required for the visa application.

6. Pre-departure Covid-19 PCR testing

• A negative PCR test is required before boarding your flight and on arrival in Sri Lanka. The test should be no older than 72 hours before boarding.

7. On arrival in Sri Lanka

• The airport will have high-intensity sanitation measures in place for all areas and staff.
• There is no quarantine on arrival unless symptoms are detected.
• A PCR test would be done on arrival at the airport. No charge.
• Currently, it takes 24 hours to receive the test results. We are making changes to have results within 4-6 hours by August. In the event it is required to wait 24 hours for test results; you will be able to select a hotel for a one-night stay from Certified 4 or 5-star hotels in Colombo or Negombo until the test results are received.
• A further test will be done 4-5 days after arrival by a mobile unit in coordination with your Certified Accommodation provider.
• Travelers staying for more than 10 days will be required to take a third test during their stay. While this may be inconvenient it is essential to safeguard everybody and provide peace of mind.
• In case of a positive PCR result, quarantine in a designated hotel or hospitalization will take place depending on the details of the case. Quarantine would usually be 14 to 21 days if symptoms are detected.

8. Moving around Sri Lanka

• To ensure your safety, please arrange transportation before your arrival, with your Certified Accommodation provider or travel agent. Public transport should not be used.
• All tourist sites will be open from the 1st of August onwards with safety protocols and measures in place to ensure the wellbeing of our travelers.
• There will be no travel restrictions between districts for tourists.

9. What is Sri Lanka’s status with COVID-19?

• Being an island, and thanks to the proactive measures taken, Sri Lanka has been able to manage the spread of the virus. No active community clusters have been detected in the last 30 days within the country.

If you want to know the Latest update on Sri Lanka Tourism in detail please refer to the Sri Lanka Tourism Operational Guidelines with Health Protocols.