Sri Lanka Reopening Borders for International Tourism – A Pilot Programme

Sri Lanka eased its borders for tourists after nine months and the flight carrying the first group of tourists from Ukraine arrived at Mattala International Airport on 28^th December 2020. The 186 tourists who arrived via flight PQ-555 travelled in Sri Lanka for 10 days. According to Udayanga Weeratunga, the former Sri Lankan Ambassador to Russia, this group of tourists were only allowed to visit attractions within a travel bubble operated in Bentota, Beruwala, and Koggala.

Under this pilot programme to attract tourists to Sri Lanka, which will be in place until January 24^th, 2021, around 2,580 tourists are expected to arrive in Sri Lanka. Currently, Sri Lanka’s domestic tourism is in place and many local tourists are in search of safe accommodation Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka has to offer. However, they will be able to enter the Nuwara Eliya district and stay at properties such as Galway Heights only if they can produce a health clearance certificate from issued by a Public Health Inspector (PHI).