• New decision bans passengers with travel history including transits during past 14 days
• Industry says decision was pushed by medical experts

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) yesterday informed all airlines that passengers with a travel history to South American countries and South Africa will not be allowed to disembark in Sri Lanka with immediate effect until further notice.

CAA Director-General Themiya Abeywickrama said the airlines had been informed that the ban was on passengers with a travel history to these countries including transits during the past 14 days.

South Africa and South American countries are the latest addition to the already-imposed ban on incoming passengers with a travel history (including transit) from India and Vietnam in the past 14 days.

During the first four months, a total of 1,990 tourists from South American countries and 1,364 from South Africa visited the country, according to Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) data.

The Director-General said the decision was taken in accordance with instructions received from the Tourism and Aviation Ministry due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation.

Industry sources told the Daily FT that the fresh decision was also pushed by the medical experts as they insisted on imposing a ban on tourists from countries where the rapidly-spreading COVID-19 variant had been identified.

On 1 June, Sri Lanka welcomed the first batch of tourists after a 10-day restriction on inbound travellers. 

After a near 10-month closure, Sri Lanka on 21 January reopened borders to resume inbound international travel to the country. Since then, over 13,000 tourists have arrived while complying with health and safety guidelines.

UK to downgrade SL to Red from Amber in travel warning