June 2: In a recent development, Sri Lanka has temporarily lifted the ban on the inbound travellers from June 1 continuing ban with India as of now. The country has decided to stay more cautious about travellers who have stayed in India in the last 14 days before arriving in Sri Lanka.
Prior to the wrath of coronavirus, India was Sri Lanka’s top inbound travel market. Other than this, the Columbo airport was a transit hub for the Indians who were heading to the West Asia region before the current wave. However, as the Covid-19 cases surged in the country, the faci8lity was stopped in early May.
Prior to the second wave in India, both the countries planned and began work to initiate a tourism travel bubble, however, the plans have been put on indefinite hold, as of now.
Also read: UAE extends travel restrictions on travellers from India till June 14
As stated in the statement given by the Office of Civil Aviation, “Any passenger with a travel history to India including transit in the past 14 days will not be permitted to arrive. Foreign nationals, seafarers, businessmen, investors and others are required to obtain approval from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to enter the island along with the entry visa. A negative PCR test must be taken by all categories of travellers before departure point of origin as per airline or country requirements. And all passengers must adhere to the paid quarantine procedure.”
