In late April, we at Resplendent Ceylon sent a message, a story of resilience, encapsulating the belief that we will rise again together. All three of our resorts opened on the 1st of June, 2020 and since then, we have been operating with comprehensive safety protocols, which have been received very well with all our guests. Our recent guests have been expats and Sri Lankan residents, which is the first step before welcoming international guests back to Sri Lanka, as airports are set to open on the 1st of August 2020.

As Sri Lanka gets ready to welcome travellers from across the world back, there will be safety guidelines and precautionary measures taken.

We have put together a list of information, sourced from the official Sri Lanka Tourism website to help answer any questions you may have before you travel. This information and protocols may change, and while will continue to update this page, please do check the official pages for the latest updates.

Who is allowed to travel to Sri Lanka?
Please see the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) official website of the Department of Immigration & Emigration (DI&E) for more information.

Which airports will operate?
Bandaranaike International Airport [BIA], Colombo Ratmalana Airport [RMA] and Mattala Rajapaksa Hambantota Airport [MRIA] will be operating for tourist arrivals from Aug 1st 2020.

What are the visa procedures?
All travellers will require a valid visa; this will be issued for 30 days and extendable for up to 6 months after arrival. To apply for a visa, please click here.

Further relaxation on visa procedures for long stay guests is currently under consideration, enabling tourists to be granted five-year multiple entry visas with maximum 6 months stay. The visa fee will be US$100.

What information is required for visa application?
Please see the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) official website of the Department of Immigration & Emigration (DI&E) for more information.

Where can I stay and is there a minimum duration?
A minimum 5-night stay in Sri Lanka is required. Independent professional audits will be done to certify accommodation providers who will be listed on the Sri Lanka tourism website. Details of bookings made with certified accommodation providers are required for the visa application.

Is there anything required pre departure?
A negative PCR test is required prior to boarding your flight and on arrival in Sri Lanka. The test should be no older than 72 hours prior to boarding.

What can I expect when I arrive in Sri Lanka?
The airport will have high intensity sanitation measures in place for all areas and staff.

There is no quarantine on arrival unless symptoms are detected.

A PCR test will be done on arrival at the airport. Currently, it takes 24 hours to receive the test results. The airport authorities are making changes to have results within 4-6 hours by August. In the event it is required to wait 24 hours for test results; you will be able to select a hotel for a one-night stay from any certified 4 or 5-star hotels in Colombo or Negombo until the test results are received. Another test will be done 4-5 days after arrival by a mobile unit in coordination with your certified accommodation provider.

Travellers staying for more than 10 days will be required to take a third test during their stay. While this may be inconvenient it is essential to safeguard everybody and provide peace of mind. In case of a positive PCR result, quarantine in a designated hotel or hospitalisation will take place depending on the details of the case. Quarantine would usually be 14 to 21 days if symptoms are detected.

What restrictions will there be to move around Sri Lanka?
The airport will have high intensity sanitation measures in place for all areas and staff.

To ensure your safety, you will have arrange transportation prior to your arrival with your certified accommodation provider or travel agent. Public transport should not be used.

All tourist sites will be open from the 1st August onwards with safety protocols and measures in place to ensure the wellbeing of our travelers. There will be no travel restrictions between districts for tourists.

What is Sri Lanka’s status with COVID-19?
Being an island, and thanks to the proactive measures taken, Sri Lanka has been able to manage the spread of the virus. No active community clusters have been detected in the last 30 days within the country.

We at Resplendent Ceylon are focused on ensuring your happiness and safety. We have taken the utmost care, following our SafeStay protocols, to create a safe space for you to seek refuge. After months of lockdown, we have created a space for you to escape. We look forward to having you with us.

To read our SafeStay protocol in detail please click here.

Resplendent Ceylon will not be held liable for all information listed above. This has been sourced from government websites, and the most up-to-date information can be accessed here:
www.sltda.gov.lk
www.eta.gov.lk
www.srilanka.travel

Download the Sri Lanka Tourism Operational Guidelines with Health Protocols here.