By Skandha Gunasekara The tourism industry would first seek to reopen restaurants before fully reopening the sector, The Morning learnt. It is revealed that the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) has requested the Covid-19 Presidential Task Force to seek approval of the health authorities to open restaurants once again. “I requested that restaurants be allowed to open, subject to certification of the regional medical officer,” SLTDA Chairperson Kimarli Fernando said. The Tourism Chief said that it would be similar to the reopening of salons, where only a select few would be given the green light by the relevant area medical health officer. She noted that she had asked National Operation Centre for Prevention of Covid-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) Head and Army Commander Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva to announce the decision. Fernando went on to say that the Government was in the process of issuing Covid-19 guidelines for the tourism industry to follow in order to fully open the sector. “They are thorough guidelines which include all health services instructions as well as other additions we have made after reviewing similar guidelines given by other countries, such as Singapore,” Fernando said.