Plans are underway to allow tourist arrivals into the country from the 1st of August, in adherence to strict health and safety guidelines. This has been recommended to President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa by the Presidential Task Force on COVID19.

It will made mandatory for all tourists arriving on the island to carry a report confirming they do not have COVID19 and once they arrive, they will undergo PCR tests at the airport itself. The President has already instructed the aviation and health authorities to set to a lab at the BIA, Katunaike, to conduct PCR tests at the airport without delay.

The Ministry of Tourism says visas will not be issued free of charge and tourists must spend more than 5 days in the country upon their arrival.

All tourist hotels, from five-star hotels to homestays will be given a COVID-19 free certification upon investigations.