(COLOMBO, LANKAPUVATH) – The Airport and Aviation Services Sri Lanka informed the public that Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) and Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) will resume commercial flight operations from 21st January 2021 ten months after they were closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The first flight after reopening the airport for commercial flights arrived at the Katunayake Bandaranaike International Airport at 7.40 am today (21).
Oman Airlines flight from Muscat, Oman with 50 Sri Lankan passengers arrived first after the airport resumed commercial operations. All passengers arrived were directed to quarantine.
The Bandaranaike International Airport opened for tourists from midnight Wednesday after 10 months in accordance with the health guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health.
The Ministry of Health has also issued a series of guidelines on health practices to be followed by tourists visiting the country.
The health guideline outlines a number of steps to follow when arriving in the island, including hotel room reservations, PCR tests, and places to visit. It is noteworthy that the guide also mentions the parties responsible for each location after the tourists arrive in the island.
With the opening of the airport, residents, dual citizens and foreign tourists will be able to visit the island without any hindrance.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Tourism has decided not to conduct PCR tests at the airport for tourists visiting the island. Secretary to the Ministry of Tourism S. Hettiarachchi said it was decided to conduct PCR tests at the relevant hotels as there could be congestion at the airport.
While these activities are being carried out to uplift the tourism industry, the program to bring Sri Lankan expatriates to the island will continue, the official said.
