Tourists allowed under health regulations from Aug. 01

(FASTNEWS | COVID-19) – There will be stringent health related checks and balances which will be imposed when the Bandaranaike International Airport is reopened on August 1, Airport and Aviation Services (AASL) Chairman Major General (Retd) G.A.Chandrasiri said.

He said that there will be five airlines which be flying into the BIA carrying tourists. They are SriLankan Airlines, Emirates, Qatar Airways and China Airlines. He said there will be a restriction in the number of arriving flights due to the health conditions.

Tourists will be allowed to come in groups only such as in families and friends. They will be allowed to enter only hotels and properties which are registered with the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority.

When the airline tickets are finalised at the destination that the tourists are arriving from, they are expected to do a PCR Test before 24 hours of their departure as well, he said.

Incoming visitors will also be required to fill in a Health Declaration Form while aboard the aircraft and prior to their disembarking. After they disembark, they will be streamed and be scanned after which they Immigration will clear them if they are not infected.

They will be required to wait there until they are cleared.

Those who are cleared will be allowed to enter a Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority registered property and the tourists will have to specifically mention which hotel they will be entering. If there are infected visitors, they will be sent to the IDH from the BIA. Those who are cleared by the Health Authorities, will also be tested in their hotels after the first five days. On their departures as well,they are required to undergo PCR tests two days prior to their departure, and they will be required to mention where they are going to, he said.

Meanwhile, there will also be a Oman Airways flight which will depart from Mattala on July 24 to Oman which will carry 150 to 170 passengers and 14 tons of cargo.

He also said that the Japanese engineers have arrived for Phase two of the BIA expansion project.