Relaxed rules on select incoming passengers

• Civil Aviation Authority and Sri Lanka Tourism list four categories of travellers on whom airlines need not get prior approval to fly to Sri Lanka
• Move aimed at facilitating Govt. tourism resumption effort

By Charumini de Silva

Sri Lanka has relaxed rules on select incoming passengers who are entering the country under the ‘Sri Lanka Tourism Safety Protocol’.

The CAASL Director General and CEO Capt. Themiya Abeywickrama has written to airlines updating them with Sri Lanka Tourism safety protocols. 

Airlines do not require prior CAA prior approval for the four categories of passengers who are entitled to arrive under the Sri Lanka Tourism Safety Protocol. They are, 1. Foreigners with tourist visa; 2. Sri Lankans who hold dual citizenship; 3. Sri Lankan spouse or close family members (child, mother, father) who is carrying a Sri Lankan passport accompanying a foreign national and 4. Foreign passport holders with a valid residence visa

These categories of passengers also will not be subject to mandatory minimum stay.

However prior to departure it is mandatory for the passenger to have a hotel booking for up to 14 days of stay in a certified safe and secure level 1 hotel apart from making the mandatory payment to the hotel or travel agent for PCR tests ($ 40 per test) and COVID-19 Insurance of $ 12 for the passenger (s) when making hotel booking.

CAASL has old airlines it is mandatory to obtain hotel booking reference number after b) and c) is completed.

Hotel or travel agents are required to send email to [email protected] stating all details including passport number, number of pax, hotel reference, including payment for PCR tests and COVID Insurance, flight details, the category of passenger, airport transfer details including vehicle number and chauffeur details; and seek Sri Lanka Tourism assistance.

Separately Sri Lanka Tourism is required to inform and coordinate with the Immigration and Emigration Department and assist passenger.

Airlines have also been told by CAASL that business visa holders and diplomats are not permitted to arrive under the Sri Lanka Tourism Safety Protocol.

Sri Lanka on 21 January reopened borders and resumed international tourism after a closure of 10 months as part of measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 pandemic. 

Since then over a dozen scheduled international airlines and charter flights have been operating bringing both leisure and business travellers.