Over 200 Ukranian tourists to arrive in SL today

• Mattala Airport will re-open for tourists 
• Pilot project will go on for one month
• Tourists will stay in a travel bubble in Bentota, Koggala and Beruwela

By JAMILA HUSAIN 

The Mattala International Airport will re-open for tourists under a pilot project from today with over 200 Ukranian tourists expected to arrive here at 2.40 p.m., the Daily Mirror learns. 

 Chairman of the BIA Major General G. A. Chandrasiri told Daily Mirror yesterday the tourists will arrive under a strict travel bubble and will be allowed to travel to only certain areas of the country. They will all be subject to PCR tests upon arrival. 

Chandrasiri said the pilot project will commence for a period of one month on a trial and error basis before the airport opens up for passengers next month. 

“This is a pilot project which will go on for one month on a trial and error basis to check if everything is in order, according to health and tourism requirements. And if everything goes well then tourism will commence in January,” Chandrasiri said. 

“They will go through the process and be taken to their hotels,” he added. 

The tourists will be staying in a travel bubble operated in Bentota, Koggala and Beruwela. 

The project kicked off under a joint effort by several stakeholders including the Civil Aviation Authority and the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority. 

More flights carrying tourists are expected to arrive in the coming days under the pilot project, where tourists will be under a strict travel bubble, the Daily Mirror learns. 

Meanwhile, the Mattala International Airport and the Bandaranaike International Airport have taken maximum measures to ensure that the new variant of the COVID-19 does not enter the country once airports re-open for tourism next month. 

According to officials, protocols in place are according to international standards and maximum measures have been taken to ensure the new variant does not enter the country.