Sri Lanka: Officials reduce quarantine requirements for fully-vaccinated international arrivals to one day as of July 8 /update 65

Event

Authorities have reduced the quarantine requirement for fully-vaccinated international arrivals to one day as of July 8 amid ongoing attempts to stem the spread of COVID-19. The travelers must present an original or translated certificate in English proving completion of vaccination at least two weeks before the travel date, take a PCR test upon arrival, isolate at designated sites until the test returns negative, and undergo another PCR test on the seventh day after arriving. The passengers must also not have a travel history within the past 14 days to any country in the travel suspension list, including India, South Africa, and Vietnam. International arrivals who have not been fully vaccinated must quarantine for 14 days at designated facilities, regardless of the result of the on-arrival PCR test.

Other domestic measures remain in effect nationwide. The interprovincial travel ban remains in effect through July 19, with exemptions for essential service providers and selected government employees, among others. Private taxi services can operate at full capacity nationwide. Additionally, public transport vehicles in Western Province can operate at 30-percent capacity, while those in other parts of Sri Lanka can run at half their capacity. Corporate meetings can occur with a maximum of 10 people, while conferences can involve up to 25 on-site participants; other types of private and public gatherings are still largely banned. Supermarkets remain capped at 25-percent of their customer capacity. Religious establishments, cinemas, museums, and entertainment venues must remain closed. Using facemasks remains mandatory in public. Companies must continue to allow telecommuting to the extent possible; they must also collect and update employee details to facilitate contact tracing.

Curfews remain in effect in areas at high risk for COVID-19 transmission. Nonessential businesses, except for specifically permitted industries, must close in these localities. Officials advise people living in curfew areas or with recent travel history to these locations to monitor their health and undergo COVID-19 tests if symptoms occur. Such measures will likely continue in Ampara, Anuradhapura, Batticaloa, Colombo, Galle, Gampaha, Jaffna, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Nuwara-Eliya, Matale, Puttalam, Ratnapura, and Trincomalee districts, due to elevated COVID-19 activity.

Additional Travel Restrictions
Inbound international passenger flights are operational with protocols, like carrying only a maximum of 75 passengers. Travelers with less than 12 hours of transit at any Sri Lankan international airport may disembark if holding proof of onward travel. Officials continue to ban entry for individuals with travel history in the past 14 days to India, South Africa, Vietnam, or any South American nation, as well as French Guiana and the Falkland Islands. Additionally, authorities have suspended entry for travelers who have been to Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, eSwatini (Swaziland), Zambia, and Zimbabwe in the previous 14 days through 23:59 July 31. The entry ban applies to all passengers regardless of nationality and vaccination status.

All permitted arrivals must provide a negative result from a PCR test taken within 72 hours before departure and a completed health declaration form, regardless of vaccination status. Incoming travelers who have been to Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates in the past 14 days must obtain a negative PCR test result within 96 hours before the trips.

Most outbound passengers must take RT-PCR tests within 72 hours before departure; foreign nationals and holders of official or diplomatic visas may be exempt. International passenger ships, such as cruise liners and ferries, are barred indefinitely; however, ports are operating for cargo transport. Foreigners already in Sri Lanka may apply to extend their visas.

Advice

Follow all official instructions. Abide by national health and safety measures. Reconfirm all travel arrangements. Consider delaying traveling if experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19, as they may prompt increased scrutiny and delays. Liaise with trusted contacts for further updates and guidance. Maintain contact with your diplomatic representation. Ensure that contingency plans account for further disruptive measures or extensions of current restrictions. Reconsider and reconfirm nonemergency health appointments. Plan for queues and delays at available shopping centers.

Resources

World Health Organization (WHO)
Ministry of Health Sri Lanka
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka Tourism Board
Civil Aviation Authority Email Address