SriLana to welcome Indian tourists next week

The Tourism Ministry has decided to permit Indian tourists to visit Sri Lanka from next week, under strict guidelines.

According to the Sunday Times, a Tourism Ministry official said the decision has been taken in a bid to revive the tourism industry which has been severely affected due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The decision taken after meetings with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa will be informed to SriLankan Airlines and other international airlines which will resume flights to fly in tourists from India.

Accordingly, Indian tourists who agree to stay in hotels registered as three-star or above will be permitted to travel to Sri Lanka. This ends restrictions placed on visitors from India which continues to report some 25,000 COVID-19 cases a day.

Meanwhile, Foreign tourists will also be permitted to arrive in Sri Lanka from next week. 

The tourists will be allowed to visit public parks and cultural sites, despite Sri Lanka being under a 10- day long curfew until August 30.

Accordingly, officials at wildlife parks, zoological and botanical gardens, and the Central Cultural Fund managed heritage sites have been adviced to facilitate the visits of tourists in the coming days