Foreign Ministry lifts entry requirement for Sri Lankans

Under the directive of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the Foreign Ministry yesterday revised the procedure for prospective Sri Lankan returnees.

According to the new procedure, Sri Lankans, dual citizens who travel on Sri Lankan passports, spouses and unmarried children of Sri Lankans who are foreigners, and Sri Lankan seafarers arriving by air, will be permitted to enter Sri Lanka without the prior approval of the Foreign Ministry and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAASL).

The responsibility of maintaining a manageable number of passenger arrivals has however been entrusted with the CAASL, which will, through the respective airlines, regulate the numbers in a manner that can cope with the local capacities of quarantining and other logistics required.

All arriving passengers will be required to strictly adhere to health protocols and guidelines that are effective at the time of arrival.