Sri Lanka: Officials further tighten restrictions nationwide through Aug. 31 due to COVID-19 /update 70

Event

Officials have further tightened measures nationwide through Aug. 31 due to increased COVID-19 activity. Only one person from each household can leave the house, except for individuals working in permitted industries or seeking medical help. Public transport services within provinces can operate with only seated passengers allowed. Offices can operate on-site with only minimum staff. Authorities suspend gatherings, meetings, conferences, seminars, shopping malls, and educational institutions. Hotels and guest houses can open at 25-percent capacity. Food establishments can serve dine-in customers at half the seating capacity.

A nightly 22:00-04:00 is still in effect, with exceptions for essential workers, among others. Interprovincial bus and train services remain suspended, with exemptions for essential employees, among others. Using facemasks remains mandatory in public.

Stricter rules 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.

Additional Travel Restrictions
Inbound international passenger flights are operational with protocols. The rules include carrying only a maximum of 75 passengers. However, exceptions are in place for flights with fully-vaccinated passengers and people arriving via the Sri Lanka Tourism Bio Bubble program. Entry remains suspended for most individuals with travel history in the past 14 days to Angola, Botswana, Eswatini (Swaziland), Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and all South American countries and territories. Sri Lankan nationals, resident visa holders, foreign staff of UN or other international organizations, and foreigners who are invited by the Sri Lankan government may apply for exemption from the entry ban. These travelers must quarantine for 14 days at designated sites upon arrival.

Permitted arrivals from most other countries 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. They must also undergo another PCR test upon arrival. International arrivals who have not been fully vaccinated must quarantine for 14 days at designated facilities. Fully vaccinated arrivals are only required to quarantine for one day if they present an original or English-translated certificate proving completion of vaccination at least two weeks before the travel date, take an on-arrival PCR test, and isolate at designated sites until the test returns negative.

Stricter rules are in place for arrivals from India. Foreign nationals who have been to India in the past 14 days must obtain advance approval from Sri Lankan authorities before entering. Fully-vaccinated Sri Lankan citizens and resident visa holders must quarantine at a designated facility for one day until an on-arrival PCR test returns negative before quarantining at their residence until the tenth day after arrival in Sri Lanka. Fully vaccinated foreigners and travelers who have not been fully vaccinated must quarantine at designated premises for at least 10 and 14 days, respectively, and can leave the facilities only after obtaining negative results from all required PCR tests.

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.

Resources

World Health Organization (WHO)
Ministry of Health Sri Lanka
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka Tourism Board