(LANKAPUVATH | COLOMBO) – Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga has requested the Minister of Health to look into the possibility of making the use of the Covid vaccination card compulsory as nearly 13.7 million people in the country have been fully vaccinated.
Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga says that this will make the Covid vaccination card compulsory for foreign tourists as well.
The Minister made this request during a discussion with Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella on the future of the tourism industry.
He pointed out that out of the total population of the country, nearly 14 million have already been fully vaccinated. Accordingly, more than 60 percent of the total population has been vaccinated against Covid, the Minister said.
Currently, travel restrictions are being relaxed across the country and vaccination program is also being implemented. School children are also vaccinated, and in this situation if the use of the Covid vaccination card in the country is made compulsory, it will be possible to attract those who have not yet been vaccinated, Ranatunga said.
Mr. Ranatunga also stated that he intends to do this in accordance with the existing health regulations in the country.
Health Minister Keheliya Rambukwella stated that discussions could be held with the relevant authorities in this regard in the future. The Minister pointed out that the country’s economic sector could be rebuilt by reviving the tourism industry and assured the full support of the health sector to the tourism sector.
Secretary to the Ministry of Tourism S. Hettiarachchi, Secretary to the Ministry of Health Major General Sanjeewa Munasinghe, Director General of Health Services Asela Gunawardena and Director General of the Tourism Development Authority Dhammika Wijesinghe were also present.
