SL fully reopens borders to tourists, international arrivals

Colombo, Jan 22 Sri Lanka has completely reopened its borders to tourists and international arrivals, after flight operations ...

Colombo, Jan 22 Sri Lanka has completely reopened its borders to tourists and international arrivals, after flight operations were suspended 10 months ago in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

An Oman Air flight carrying 50 Sri Lankans arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Colombo early Thursday, reports Xinhua news agency.

Speaking to the media here, Minister of Tourism Prasanna Ranatunga thanked President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa for reviving the Covid-19-affected tourism industry which employs three million people.

Ranatunga however said the country was not targeting a particular number of tourists at this juncture for the year, as it was too early to predict.