NEW DELHI: Reopening for fully vaccinated Indian tourists — including those who got Covaxin, Sri Lanka is wooing them with a vengeance.
SriLankan Airlines has come with a “buy one and get one free” offer for desi leisure travellers on Colmobo return tickets. This offer is on till October 31, 2021.
Sri Lanka now allows fully vaccinated Indian tourists with no quarantine for those who test Covid negative on arrival.
“One just needs to be fully vaccinated, with the second shot taken at least 14 days before the trip. A mandatory RT-PCR test will be conducted in the hotel and if anyone tests positive will be taken to health care centres run from hotels,” the airline said.
“Sri Lanka is now open for Indian tourists. People need to be fully vaccinated, with the second shot taken at least 14 days before the trip. On arrival, travellers will go to their hotel where RT-PCR test will be conducted. Those who test negative can travel where they want to go,” SriLankan Airlines’ head of worldwide sales and distribution, Dimuthu Tennakoon.
Also, there is no requirement for quarantine for travellers who test Covid negative on arrival in the Emerald Island.
All other Covid time requirements of social distancing and hand sanitation will be need to be obviously observed by those testing negative.
“Sri Lanka is accepting all vaccines, including Covaxin. Currently, India accounts for over 12 crore fully vaccinated citizens which has resulted in the reawakening interest in travel,” Dimuthu confirmed.
From September 1, SriLankan will resume services between Colombo and Madurai, Tiruchirappalli, Trivandrum and Cochin with flights once a week. Hyderabad and New Delhi will be connected to Colombo with twice-weekly flights.
Its operations out of Chennai and Mumbai will expand up to five times a week and Bangalore-Colombo services will be enhanced to flights three times a week.