Sri Lanka conditionally revises decision to ban passengers from Gulf countries

(MENAFN - The Peninsula) Doha: Sri Lanka has revised yesterday’s decision to ban passengers from Gulf countries including Qatar provided they follow certain conditions. Yesterday Sri Lankan government spokesperson said that a high number of passengers from the Middle East are testing Covid-19 positive on arrival in Sri Lanka and this was the reason to impose the ban. Nearly 110 passengers arrived on Monday tested positive, local media quoted cabinet co-spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella. The Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka (CAASL) today revised its earlier decision of two-week travel ban from July 1 on passengers from Gulf countries. �In according with instructions received from the Ministry of Health and the National Operations Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) the passenger restriction on the following 6 Countries (Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait) is revoked with immediate effect on the following conditions,” a statement by Director General of the CAASL Capt Themiya Abeywickrama said. • All arriving passengers must have a negative PCR Test obtained within 96 hours prior to departure. Airline to ensure this before boarding passengers. • Antigen tests cannot be accepted as a pre-departure test for boarding. • PCR test must be presented from a Government approved hospital/laboratory in the respective Country with a QR Code/Bar Code. • Airlines must satisfy themselves of the authenticity of the test reports presented by the passengers. • Passengers are permitted to arrive only for Hotel Quarantine or through the Sri Lanka Tourism Bio-Bubble Route.MENAFN30062021000063011010ID1102370068