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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

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Sri Lanka is opening its borders to tourists after a 10-month break. Photo: Getty Images

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.

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The announcement came despite a surge in Covid-19 cases and deaths, as authorities sought to revive a once-lucrative tourism sector devastated by the deadly 2019 Easter bombings and the pandemic.

“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.

St Anthony’s Shrine in Kochchikade in Colombo, Sri Lanka was bombed in April 2019. Photo: Getty Images
St Anthony’s Shrine in Kochchikade in Colombo, Sri Lanka was bombed in April 2019. Photo: Getty Images
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Sri Lanka is also currently hosting the England cricket team for a two-Test series, with the matches played behind closed doors.

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