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Affärer, Turism

SENASTE RESEINSTRUKTIONER SRI LANKA

14th June 2021 ( 1425 hrs/SL time)

Warm Greetings from Sri Lanka !!!!

Due to ongoing Covid 19 related issues / developments, some of the travel related guidelines and health & safety protocols are also evolving / changing time to time, as required accordingly to the domestic conditions even in Sri Lanka as same as with many other countries around the world. So that we just wanted to share some clarifications and answers for frequently asked questions by many of the tour operators. Hope, this information will help you to get a better understanding on what’s going on in the Island and the general arrangements towards tourism arrivals in to the country.  

  1. Current Covid 19 situation in Sri Lanka ?

Since the first Covid – 19 patient, was detected in March 2020, the country has recorded 223,638 confirmed Covid patients as of 14th June 2021. Out of which, 188,547 patients have been recovered and discharged from the hospitals up to now. Currently, there are 32,955 active cases undergoing medical treatments at the hospitals and intermediatory care centers. In the month of June, an average of 2361 daily new cases are being reported. A total of 2136 deaths have been recorded up to date, since the beginning of the pandemic in the Isle.

  1. Are International airports in Sri Lankan open again?

Yes, passengers are permitted to arrive in Sri Lanka back again via International Airports with effect from 01st June 2021 subject to the following restrictions until further notice:

  • Each incoming flight can carry only a maximum of 75 passengers in total. 
  • However, the above limitation does not apply for the passengers arriving via the Sri Lanka Tourism Bio Bubble Route holding tourist visas, resident visas & also for dual citizens. (www.srilanka.travel/helloagain).
  • Passengers with a travel history (including transit) in the past 14 days to India, Vietnam, South Africa and the countries in South America are not permitted to disembark in Sri Lanka.
  • All foreign passport holders are subject to a 14 day mandatory quarantine period since the arrival in the country. (If they travel in the tourist route and in the bio bubble, no mandatory minimum stay requirement in Sri Lanka).
  • Even for fully vaccinated Sri Lankans or Dual Citizens arriving should undergo a mandatory Home Quarantine covering up to 14 days since the arrival in Sri Lanka, post the first few nights stay at a level one hotel (approx. 02 nights) and after getting discharged from there with a Negative PCR test results.
  1. What are the latest quarantine and testing rules applicable for the tourists arrive in Sri Lanka?

All passengers (except Sri Lankans and Dual Citizens) are arriving in Sri Lanka must have an appropriate ”valid visa”, which has been issued by the Department of Immigration and Emigration.

Visa should apply through Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA).

Given below are the Basic Health Protocols (applicable as of now), that guests should know, before arriving in Sri Lanka via “Tourist Route” (i.e. Step 01 – 04).                           

Step – 01; Prior to boarding travelers are required to:

  1. Have negative PCR test done within 72 hours before boarding the flight from your current destination.
  2. A hotel booking is made at a Safe & Secure Level One (L1) hotel/s for the duration of stay. (Approx. 13 Nights, if fully vaccinated or none-vaccinated guests).
  3. If required by the clients, it is allowed to move within L1 hotels with a bio bubble and use all authorized facilities of the hotel/s. Please visit www.srilanka.travel/helloagain for more information.
  4. Pay & get arranged for mandatory COVID-19 local travel insurance cover at a cost of USD 12.00 per cover (a policy worth of USD 50,000.00 for a period of one month), when making hotel booking/s. This is compulsory for all the travelers including infants.
  5. Pre-pay for mandatory PCR tests, when making hotel booking/s (USD 40.00 per test) depending on the number of days of stay:
  • If your stay is 05 or more days, pay for 02 PCR tests (i.e. on arrival and exit PCR in Sri Lanka).
  • However, if the stay is less than 05 days, no exit PCR is required (unless your departure flight / destination needs).
  • Children below 02 years are exempted from PCR testing. (However, if the parents/guardians/accompanying any other members in the family or the group develop symptoms or result in positive PCR test reports, even infants will have to undergo PCR tests).
  1. Children between 02-12 years undergo only exit PCR tests.
  1. Airport transfers to be arranged through a Safe & Secure Certified entity only.
  2. It is a must to get the approval from relevant authority in relevant to the health & safety of the country, with relevant supportive documents to release / discharge anyone to the community, after completing the required stay period at L1 hotel/s (Discharge Letter).

Step – 02; On arrival at the Sri Lankan airport, produce the following:

a. Negative COVID-19 PCR report (in English) taken within 72 hours before the flight.

b. Completed Health Declaration Form.

Step – 03; Stay at the pre booked Certified Safe & Secure L1 hotel/s for up to first 14 days, since the arrival in Sri Lanka and undergo on-arrival PCR test. (Travelers are allowed to stay at any number of Certified Safe & Secure L1 hotels and permitted to use all facilities of the hotel upon an on arrival negative PCR test report). Also, until the guests get a negative PCR test results for the on arrival PCR test, they need to stay 100% inside the room, irrespective of whether they are vaccinated or none-vaccinated. Travelers are also allowed to visit approved tourist sites in a bio bubble during their stay period in Sri Lanka. Visit www.srilanka.travel/helloagain.

Step – 04; Perform the second PCR;

a. If stay is more than 14 days – perform second PCR on 11th -14th day of arrival. Upon negative results for both PCRs travelers are allowed to leave the bio-bubble and the respective L1 hotel doctor will issue a discharge document upon verifying the PCR test results. (However, if the traveler is identified as an immediate close contact of a COVID 19 positive case/s, the bio-bubble period could be extended as decided by the L1 hotel doctor in consultation with the area medical officers of health). Once travelers leave the bio bubble and go into the community, they will be subject to the general health guidelines prevailing by that time in the country.

b. If stay is between 05-14 days – perform the PCR depending on the date of departure (i.e. 24-48 hours before departure).

c. If stay is less than 05 days – no exit PCR required, unless their flight / destination asks for the same.

**Imp. Please note that these guidelines could be changed anytime without prior notice, depending on the health & safety requirements of the country at the discretion of the relevant authorities. So that please always, need to check for the latest guidelines as well as the validity period of the relevant circulars, letters, etc.. for more accurate information.

  1. Are you seeing an improvement with the Lockdown in Sri Lanka?

The country is on extended lockdown until 21st June 2021 with travel restrictions as of now. Essential services such as medical, pharmaceutical, grocery and  food outlets are in operation  without any interruption. The two international airports in the country are open for passenger and cargo flights.

Also, we see a good improvement in terms of reporting COVID-19 patients.  

If you have any specific question/s or clarifications required, please always feel free to get in touch with us.

We wish you the best of health and stay safe !!!

Let the journey begin – Ask Us

Kind Regards,

Indika

Indika Abeykoon

General Manager – Aitken Spence Travels (Pvt) Ltd.

Aitken Spence Tower II, 315, Vauxhall Street, Colombo 02, Sri Lanka

T: +94 112499595 (D) M: +94 777 270351

www.aitkenspencetravels.com

IT, Resereportage, Turism

Nyhetsbrev 16 maj

Hälsning från Colombo.

Har varit här på Sri Lanka nästan en månad. Rutinerna kring karantän – valde härliga Heritance Ayruveda och kunde kombinera med sköna behandlingar – har fungerat väl. Även flyget, Qatar Airways, har gått smidigt. Bedömer att Sri Lanka under hösten kommer kunna välkomna svenska turister igen i större omfattning. 

För oss som behöver smaken av Sri Lanka vill jag påminna om att i Järfälla finns Original Sri Lanka och i Eskilstuna Ceylon Spice Spot. 

Hälsningar

Leif I Ohlson

Senaste nyhetsbrev. https://gansub.com/t/v/0_MjgwMDExNTE0MDQ3Mg==/

Turism

update travel regulations sri lanka

Further to the update released on 19 April 2021 by the local Health Ministry, please take note of the relevant revised protocols (in Bold) regarding travel to Sri Lanka.

Prior to boarding travellers are required to:

1. Have a valid tourist visa before boarding the flight, applied online via eta.gov.lk.
Before applying for the visa, travellers are required to have the following;

  • A pre-confirmed booking at a Level 1 ’Safe & Secure’ hotel; depending on the duration of your stay and vaccination status. 24-48 hrs for vaccinated and 14 days for not vaccinated. Allowed to move within Level 1 hotels and use all facilities of the hotel.
  • Obtain COVID-19 local travel insurance cover for USD 12 for a policy of USD 50,000 for a period of one month is mandatory (despite the vaccination status all visitors are required to obtain a COVID insurance cover)
  • Pay for PCR tests (USD 40 per PCR test) depending on the number of days of stay and vaccination status.

                       *If vaccinated 1 PCR test on arrival.
                      *If not vaccinated 2 PCR tests, on arrival and exit PCR. However, if the stay is less than 5 days, no exit PCR required.
                      *Children below 2 years are exempted from PCR testing.
                      *Children between 2-12 years,
                                          • Vaccinated route – undergo only on-arrival PCR.
                                          • Not-vaccinated route – undergo only exit PCR.

2. Have a negative PCR test done within 72 hours before boarding the flight.

3. Airport transfers should be arranged by a Certified Safe & Secure travel agent or another certified secondary party.

Protocol for Vaccinated Travellers

1.

• Travellers who have completed the recommended doses of COVID-19 vaccination and arriving after two weeks of completion of vaccination will be considered ’vaccinated’.
•  Any vaccination accepted by the country of origin is acceptable under the vaccinated route.
• Children below 12 years are permitted to accompany their parents/guardians who are fully vaccinated.
           * Children 2 years and above are required to do one PCR test (On arrival)
          * Children below 2 years are exempted from PCR tests. However, if the parents/guardians develop symptoms or result in positive PCR test reports, children will undergo PCR tests.

2. 

At the airport produce the following;
a. Negative COVID-19 PCR report (in English) taken within 72 hours before the flight.
b. Original copy of the vaccination certificate (in English).
c. Completed Health Declaration Form.

3.

Stay at a Certified Safe & Secure Level 1 hotel until the on-arrival PCR test is performed (for 24-48 hours). Travellers are permitted to use all the facilities of the Certified Safe & Secure Level 1 hotels.

4.

On receipt of a negative PCR test report, travellers are permitted to leave the bio-bubble. The respective Level 1 hotel doctor will issue a discharge document upon verifying the status of vaccination and PCR test results.

Protocol for Travellers who are not vaccinated 

1. 

• Travellers who have not completed the COVID 19 vaccination or arrive in Sri Lanka less than two weeks of vaccination or accompany children above 12 years who are not vaccinated are considered ‘Not-Vaccinated’.
• Under this route children below 12 years are exempted from on-arrival PCR testing. However, children between 2 to 12 years will undergo an ’Exit PCR’ testing.
• Children below 2 years are exempted from PCR testing. However, if the parents/guardians develop symptoms or result in positive PCR test reports children will undergo PCR tests.

2. 

At the airport produce the following;
a. Negative COVID-19 PCR report (in English) taken within 72 hours before the flight.
b. Completed Health Declaration Form.

3. 

Stay at a Certified Safe & Secure Level 1 hotel/s for up to the first 14 days of the visit and undergo an on-arrival PCR test. Travellers are allowed to stay at any number of Certified Safe & Secure Level 1 hotels and are permitted to use all facilities of the hotel. Travellers are also allowed to visit approved tourist sites in a bio bubble. 

4. 

Perform the second PCR;
a. If the stay is more than 14 days – perform PCR on 11-14th day of arrival. Upon negative results for both PCRs, travellers are allowed to leave the bio-bubble and the respective Level 1 hotel doctor will issue a discharge document upon verifying the PCR test results.
b. If the stay is between 5-14 days – perform the PCR depending on the date of departure (i.e. 24-48 hours before departure).
c. If the stay is less than 5 days – no exit PCR required.

These guidelines will be reviewed by the relevant authorities depending on the COVID-19 status in the country and global situation, wherein such an event we will keep you updated no sooner the verified news is received.  

Affärer, Business

WHY SMALL BUSINESSES DON’T GROW?

AROUND 70% OF SRI LANKAN WORKERS HOLD INFORMAL JOBS. WHY IS INFORMALITY SO STUBBORNLY HIGH, AND DOES IT MATTER IN THE FIRST PLACE

An earnest tenderer for a building improvement at a public sector energy organisation, who arrived at 9 am spent the next six hours to collect bidding documents. Due to the risks associated with the pandemic, employees at some public sector organisations are rostered for work two or three days a week. The officers who eventually attended to the tenderer arrived several hours late carrying bags of groceries evidently having completed weekly shopping during work hours.

Being a small business owner, the tenderer patiently endured another delay to pay a Rs1,500 non-refundable bid deposit. Although the state organisation publishes documents online tenderers must bid on, the originals are collected after paying a bid deposit.


For most small businesses, and private and informal sector workers, Covid has been devastating. Private sector employees endured pay cuts, small businesses went bust and those in informal jobs were without an income during the lockdowns to prevent the Covid pandemic’s spread.

Read more

Turism

Senaste nytt om inresa till sri lanka

Please be informed of the latest circular on the revised entry measures for travel, that have been released by the Ministry of Health in Sri Lanka.
 
All travellers should get approval from Sri Lanka Tourism through https://www.srilanka.travel/helloagain/.
 
A) Protocol for travellers who have completed recommended doses of COVID-19 vaccination and arriving after two weeks of completion of vaccination. 

  1. On arrival, the original copy of the vaccination certificate together with a certified English language translation (if the certificate is not in the English language) should be produced to the Airport Health Officer.
  2. Travellers must be booked in a certified ‘Safe & Secure’ Level 1 hotel allocated for tourists.
  3. Travellers should undergo a COVID-19 PCR test within 24 hours after arrival (day one) from a Health Ministry approved private-sector laboratory.
  4. The relevant hotel will inform details of the travellers and their PCR test reports on day one, to the area Medical Officer of Health (MOH).
  5. The traveller should produce the original copy of the vaccination certificate together with a certified English language translation (if the certificate is not in the English language) to the hotel management, where they will take a photocopy to be submitted to local authorities.
  6. If the first PCR test result is negative, travellers can move within certified ‘Safe & Secure’ Level 1 hotels and visit approved sites in a bio-security bubble until the completion of day seven.
  7. If a traveller displays COVID-19 symptoms, he/ she should inform the respective tour guide/ chauffeur and hotel, and they will take steps to inform the relevant local authorities.
  8. If the day seven PCR test result is negative and upon receiving clearance from the area MOH, travellers can move about freely and engage with local communities.
  9. If the PCR test result is positive, hotel management will inform the area MOH and follow the treatment protocol issued by the Ministry of Health.

B) Protocol for travellers who have not received the COVID-19 vaccination/ not completed the recommended doses of vaccination/ arriving in Sri Lanka within less than two weeks of vaccination. 

  1. Travellers must be booked in a certified ‘Safe & Secure’ Level 1 hotel allocated for tourists.
  2. Travellers should undergo a COVID-19 PCR test within 24 hours after arrival (day one) from a Health Ministry approved private-sector laboratory.
  3. The relevant hotel will inform details of the travellers and their PCR test reports on day one, to the area Medical Officer of Health (MOH).
  4. If the traveller departs from Sri Lanka within less than fourteen days, a second PCR test should be done depending on the date of departure and should have a negative test report before departure (e.g. if the traveller departs on day eight, a second PCR test should be done on day 6th to 7th  ).
  5. If the traveller stays for less than 96 hours in Sri Lanka, it is not required to undergo the exit PCR test and will be required only if the airline/ country of destination requests so.
  6. If the traveller stays up to 14 days or more, a second PCR test should be conducted on day 11th to 14th.
  7. If the first PCR test result is negative, travellers can move within certified ‘Safe & Secure’ Level 1 hotels and visit approved sites in a bio-security bubble until the completion of day fourteen.
  8. If a traveller displays COVID-19 symptoms, he/ she should inform the respective tour guide/ chauffeur and hotel, and they will take steps to inform the relevant local authorities.
  9.  If the PCR test results of day one and day 11th to 14th are negative, the area MOH will give clearance for travellers to move about freely and engage with local communities.
  10.   If the PCR test result is positive, hotel management will inform the area MOH and follow the treatment protocol issued by the Ministry of Health.

 
These guidelines will be reviewed by the relevant authorities depending on the COVID-19 status in the country and global situation, wherein such an event we will keep you updated no sooner the verified news is received.  

Turism

uPDATED ROUTINES FOR TOURISTS TO SRI LANKA

Please be informed of the latest circular on the revised entry measures for travel, that have been released by the Ministry of Health in Sri Lanka.
 
All travellers should get approval from Sri Lanka Tourism through https://www.srilanka.travel/helloagain/.
 
A) Protocol for travellers who have completed recommended doses of COVID-19 vaccination and arriving after two weeks of completion of vaccination. 

  1. On arrival, the original copy of the vaccination certificate together with a certified English language translation (if the certificate is not in the English language) should be produced to the Airport Health Officer.
  2. Travellers must be booked in a certified ‘Safe & Secure’ Level 1 hotel allocated for tourists.
  3. Travellers should undergo a COVID-19 PCR test within 24 hours after arrival (day one) from a Health Ministry approved private-sector laboratory.
  4. The relevant hotel will inform details of the travellers and their PCR test reports on day one, to the area Medical Officer of Health (MOH).
  5. The traveller should produce the original copy of the vaccination certificate together with a certified English language translation (if the certificate is not in the English language) to the hotel management, where they will take a photocopy to be submitted to local authorities.
  6. If the first PCR test result is negative, travellers can move within certified ‘Safe & Secure’ Level 1 hotels and visit approved sites in a bio-security bubble until the completion of day seven.
  7. If a traveller displays COVID-19 symptoms, he/ she should inform the respective tour guide/ chauffeur and hotel, and they will take steps to inform the relevant local authorities.
  8. If the day seven PCR test result is negative and upon receiving clearance from the area MOH, travellers can move about freely and engage with local communities.
  9. If the PCR test result is positive, hotel management will inform the area MOH and follow the treatment protocol issued by the Ministry of Health.

B) Protocol for travellers who have not received the COVID-19 vaccination/ not completed the recommended doses of vaccination/ arriving in Sri Lanka within less than two weeks of vaccination. 

  1. Travellers must be booked in a certified ‘Safe & Secure’ Level 1 hotel allocated for tourists.
  2. Travellers should undergo a COVID-19 PCR test within 24 hours after arrival (day one) from a Health Ministry approved private-sector laboratory.
  3. The relevant hotel will inform details of the travellers and their PCR test reports on day one, to the area Medical Officer of Health (MOH).
  4. If the traveller departs from Sri Lanka within less than fourteen days, a second PCR test should be done depending on the date of departure and should have a negative test report before departure (e.g. if the traveller departs on day eight, a second PCR test should be done on day 6th to 7th  ).
  5. If the traveller stays for less than 96 hours in Sri Lanka, it is not required to undergo the exit PCR test and will be required only if the airline/ country of destination requests so.
  6. If the traveller stays up to 14 days or more, a second PCR test should be conducted on day 11th to 14th.
  7. If the first PCR test result is negative, travellers can move within certified ‘Safe & Secure’ Level 1 hotels and visit approved sites in a bio-security bubble until the completion of day fourteen.
  8. If a traveller displays COVID-19 symptoms, he/ she should inform the respective tour guide/ chauffeur and hotel, and they will take steps to inform the relevant local authorities.
  9.  If the PCR test results of day one and day 11th to 14th are negative, the area MOH will give clearance for travellers to move about freely and engage with local communities.
  10.   If the PCR test result is positive, hotel management will inform the area MOH and follow the treatment protocol issued by the Ministry of Health.

 
These guidelines will be reviewed by the relevant authorities depending on the COVID-19 status in the country and global situation, wherein such an event we will keep you updated no sooner the verified news is received.