The Health Ministry will positively consider the requests contained within the letter sent by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) which calls for the relaxation of several Covid-19 preventative measures in order to obtain desired results which will support inbound tourism, The Morning learns. Speaking to The Morning, Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said that it is under serious consideration and therefore, he has requested the Director General and the Secretary to brief him on how the suggestions can be handled. “Comparisons from protocols in other countries can be considered but they cannot be implemented as it is. We would like to look at it positively while safeguarding our ongoing Covid management efforts,” he told The Morning. The Health Minister also highlighted that the tourism sector is one of the most important in terms of foreign earnings and because there is an ongoing foreign exchange problem in the country, it gives the Health Ministry all the more reason to look into this matter. The letter signed by Chairperson of Sri Lanka Tourism Kirmali Fernando pointed out that the below four points need to be addressed in order to support tourism:

• Remove wearing of PPE for fully vaccinated flight crew
• Remove requirement of PCR 72 hours before boarding for fully vaccinated passengers
• Remove PCR for children below the age of 12 in line with EU regulations
• Allow on arrival RATs for fully vaccinated passengers on the tourist route and allow for the said RATs to be conducted at the airport.