14-day mandatory quarantine for tourists despite vaccination status

The local tourism sector will have to grapple with stronger health guidelines with immediate effect with the Ministry of Health (MoH) imposing tightened quarantine measures for all international travellers entering Sri Lanka.

In a move to contain the rising COVID-19 infection rate in the country, all tourists arriving in Sri Lanka have to undergo 14 days of quarantine, regardless of their vaccination status, the MoH announced.

International travellers should be mandatorily quarantined at a Tire 1 COVID-19 certified hotel, or a quarantine centre, until the completion of 14 days from the time of arrival, the MoH said in the latest guidelines issued on Monday.

According to the new measures, the quarantine period will be extended for individuals who are identified as immediate close contacts of a COVID-19 positive person.