Tough coronavirus restrictions for tourists in Sri Lanka, as country welcomes them back despite a surge in cases
- Sri Lanka is reopening its borders to tourists after a 10-month hiatus. They are limited to 55 hotels and Covid-19 tests before and after arrival are required
- The country’s tourism industry has been badly affected by the 2019 terrorist bombings as well as the pandemic

Sri Lanka will reopen its borders to foreign tourists this week after a 10-month hiatus, officials said, with travellers subject to tough Covid-19 protocols.
“Every precautionary measure has been set in place to make the island getaway as safe, secure and serene as possible for visitors,” the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau said in a statement, with borders due to open on January 21.
The sun-soaked island nation, famous for its picturesque beaches, last month welcomed some 1,700 Ukrainian tourists on charter flights in a “pilot project to test our systems”, the government said.

Sri Lanka is also currently hosting the England cricket team for a two-Test series, with the matches played behind closed doors.
Under the protocols, tourists will be allowed to stay in 55 designated hotels – off limits to locals except for staff – across the country. Visitors will be required to produce a negative result from a PCR test taken up to four days before their arrival.