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Airports to remain open: Prasanna

14 May 2021

  • Says it is to benefit overseas Lankans

  • Who is responsible for managing tourists, PHIs query

By Dinitha Rathnayake   No decision has been taken to close airports, Minister of Tourism Prasanna Ranatunga said, speaking to the media yesterday (13), adding that their closure could deprive Sri Lankans living abroad of the opportunity to enter the country, including those seeking repatriation. Airports will function according to the recommended health guidelines and regulations, despite the strict travel restrictions that are in force in the country, he added. A period of 14 days of quarantine has been made mandatory for all overseas arrivals regardless of their vaccination status. “Several countries have imposed temporary travel bans on travel to Sri Lanka. Kuwait and Dubai, UAE, have stopped flights from Sri Lanka and several other countries in Asia. Some countries have suspended travel and Sri Lankans also cannot travel to some countries. We have to work according to those restrictions.” They will take further action as per the instructions given to us by the health sector, he noted. Meanwhile, the Public Health Inspectors Union of Sri Lanka (PHIUSL), whilst agreeing with the Government’s decision to keep the airports open, requested however that there be an authority responsible for tourist arrivals, particularly in light of several variants of Covid-19 being found in Sri Lanka. PHIUSL Secretary Mahinda Balasooriya, speaking to The Morning, said: “Who would be responsible for those Indian arrivals who have since had a negative impact on the country? On 12 May, a few Indians in Galle were found to be Covid-19 positive. What happened to this bio bubble concept? Who knows as to how many Indians are still in the country?”  


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