Sri Lanka reopens worldwide airport however not for these with India journey historical past

Sri Lanka on Tuesday reopened its worldwide airport right here for passengers within the midst of the present COVID-19 lockdown with the primary flight with 53 passengers touchdown from Qatar.
However, these with a journey document to India and Vietnam during the last 14 days wouldn’t be allowed to disembark on the Colombo airport, mentioned a senior Civil Aviation official, P A Jayakantha.
The inside journey restrictions, which permit solely important companies, have been in impact from mid-May and attributable to be lifted on June 7.
Jayakantha mentioned that the airport was re-opened at midnight for flights that are restricted to 75 passengers.
The first flight, a Qatar Airways plane with 53 passengers, touched down on the Katunayake International Airport at 2 AM (native time) from Doha, Daily Mirror newspaper quoted an airport official as saying.
The airport would nonetheless stay shut for Indian and Vietnamese passengers, the official mentioned.
The ban additionally applies to Sri Lankans and different travellers who’ve stayed in India and Vietnam for the previous 14 days or who’ve used their airports for transit.
“We have returned to the status before May 21 when the flight ban was announced,” Jayakantha mentioned.

Dhammika Wijesinghe, a prime tourism official, mentioned that vacationers are welcome with strict adherence to COVID-19 well being pointers.
“They will have to undergo a PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) test 3 weeks before arrival and do another on arrival here. They will have to remain in quarantine for 14 days before they could step out to travel inland,” the official mentioned.
Chairman of Airport and Aviation Services, Major General G A Chandrasiri instructed Colombo Gazette that six flights have arrived in Sri Lanka because the reopening of the airport at midnight.
He mentioned one flight arrived from Qatar, and the remaining flights have been operated by nationwide provider SriLankan Airlines.
A complete of 569 passengers arrived within the six flights.
Those native and overseas passengers have been directed to bear the obligatory 14-day quarantine interval and two PCR checks.
Passengers who’re recognized and located detrimental can be allowed to socialize in Sri Lanka, whereas others will likely be referred for additional medical remedy.
Sri Lanka, which is grappling with the third wave of infections, has recorded over 80,000 new infections since April 15.
The dying toll, which stood at 678 by April 30, elevated by over 750, recording an over 100 per cent leap by the top of May, in line with well being officers.
The nation is presently observing inter-provincial journey restrictions in its effort to include the brand new surge.